Poems

Poem 1

1. Poet: Shayne Koyczan

2. Poem: To This Day Project 

3. Synopsis: Koyczan is concerned that young people are judging others and bullying them without knowing them and their background.

4.Important Poetic Technique: Koyczan makes an extensive use of an analogy. He stats that “every school [is] a big top circus tent” saying the schools are no different from the circus. Also that “the pecking order [goes] from acrobats to lion tamers from clowns to carnies” where he compares the status of those in the circus to those who are in school. He brings attention and shows the effect of what bullying does to school and does so in a manner that is easily relatable.    

5. Favorite Line: “but our lives will only ever always
 continue to be 
a balancing act that has less to do with pain and more to do with beauty.” I like this line because it demonstrates how in our society some people are quick to judge others without understanding what is happening in their lives and don’t realize the effects their actions may have on the person. 

Poem 2

1.1Poet: Taylor Mali

2. Poem: What Teachers Make

3. Synopsis:  Mali is unhappy that teacher’s jobs are based on what their income is. He believes that the outcome of the students is more important than his income and that younger generations need to be respectful and persevering individuals. 

4. Important Poetic Term: Throughout the poem Mali uses puns and figurative language. When his guest asks how much he makes instead of replying with his salary he says that he can "make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor" and "an A- feel like a slap in the face”. He also makes the comment “it’s also true what they say about lawyers" to his dinner guest whom is a lawyer. Mali is passionate and takes pride in his work and believes, “teachers make a goddamn difference!”

5. My Favorite Line: “Here, let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true: Teachers make a goddamn difference! Now what about you?” I like this line because he shows that the salary to him is not important but that he is helping the lives of many others learn and achieve their goals.

Poem 3

1. Poet: Sarah Key

2. Poem: B

3. Synopsis: Key shares the way she would raise her daughter. She would protect and comfort her throughout her whole life. She shows that no matter what happens to stay positive and find the good in things.

4. Important Poetic Technique: Key uses good diction throughout her poem to help form imagery. She wants her daughter to be unique and different than other children. By “[painting] the solar system on the back of her hands so that she has to learn the entire universe” her daughter is gaining knowledge. She also shows how she would bond with her daughter and teach her. Key also shows how protective she is when she tells her daughter “don’t keep your nose up in the air like that” because she may “follow the trail back to a burning house…to see if [she] can save…[the] boy who lost everything” because she doesn’t want her to have a “heartbreaks chocolate can’t fix”.

5. My Favorite Line: “Instead of mom, she’s going to call me “point b” because that way she knows that no matter what happens, At least she can always find her way to me.” I like this line because Key is showing that she is always going to be there for her daughter and wants her to know that she will always be there and be able to find her when she needs her.