Part Three

Poems of Address

 

                                                                                    One way to bring a person into a poem quickly and

                                                                        intimately is by using the form of address. By speaking directly

                                                                        to people, whether or not they are present, absent, or deceased,

                                                                        the poet draws them into the poem and suggests a close relationship.

                                                                        (READ “FAMILY PICNIC” BY JUDITH STEINBERGH)

 

                                                                                    The following poem of address from Mexico demonstrates

                                                                        the intimacy of the form. Each word and phrase, each metaphor

                                                                        conveys how much the mother treasures her daughter.

 

                                                                        My Daughter (an excerpt)

           

                                                                        My necklace of precious stones

                                                                                    You are turquoise

                                                                                    you are jade

                                                                                    you are feather

 

                                                                        You are my blood

                                                                        you are my colour

                                                                        you are my image

                                                                                    listen my child

                                                                                    understand my child

 

                                                                        You are alive

                                                                        you’re born

                                                                                    come close to me

                                                                                    listen!

 

                                                                                    ----traditional Mexican

                                                                        translated by Toni de Gerez

 

 

ASSIGNMENT:                    Write a poem which addresses another person (a family member, a friend, a musician,

                                                an historical figure, an actor), and imagine you are speaking directly to that person.

                                                The subject matter of the poem is up to your discretion. Use at least one metaphor

                                                in your poem and underline it.

 

                                                FOLLOW THE REQUIREMENTS GIVEN IN PART ONE TO COMPLETE THIS ASSIGNMENT.

                                                SAVE YOUR POEM IN YOUR POETRY FOLDER LABELED “PART THREE-ADDRESS”

 

 

Student Example                   It’s Your Mother Talking

 

                                                It’s your mother talking, can’t you hear?

                                                It’s your mother talking about her heartache

                                                            and tears.

                                                It’s your mother talking, oh, can’t you hear?

                                                It’s your mother talking, but you live in fear.

                                                It’s your mother talking, why can’t you hear?

                                                It’s your mother talking, listen to her tears.

                                                It’s your mother talking, her heart is

                                                            pouring out.

                                                It’s your mother talking, listen and

                                                you’ll know what she’s talking about.

 

                                                            ---Lynn Wood