Wed. Nov. 27 Catch up and poetry analysis

Today, you were given most of the time to complete the rest of the "Lamp at Noon" major activity from last week.
I also discussed and handed out a sheet on "How to Read Poetry." This almost mirrors the "how to read's of other texts, with the addition of stanza, line, end-rhyme and shape awareness activities.
Finally, I handed out the poem "Sisters" by P.K. Page (pasted below). You are to actively read this for tomorrow's class.

Sisters

 

These children split each other open like nuts,

break and crack in the small house,

are doors slamming.

Still, on the whole, are gentle for mother, take

5          her simple comfort like a drink of milk.

 

Fierce on the street they own the sun and spin

on separate axes

attract about them in their motion all

the shrieking neighbourhood of little earths,

10        in violence hold hatred in their mouths.

 

With evening their joint gentle laughter leads

them into pastures of each others eyes;

beyond, the world is barren; they contract

tenderness from each other like disease

15        and talk as if each word had just been born -

a butterfly, and soft from its cocoon.

 

P. K. Page

Contemporary Canadian poet