The Water Diviner Related Poem Content Details BY DANNIE ABSE Late, I have come to a parched land doubting my gift, if gift I have, the inspiration of water spilt, swallowed in the sand. To hear once more water trickle, to stand in a stretch of silence the divining pen twisting in the hand: sign of depths alluvial. Water owns no permanent shape, sags, is most itself descending; now, under the shadow of the idol, dry mouth and dry landscape. No rain falls with a refreshing sound to settle tubular in a well, elliptical in a bowl. No grape lusciously moulds it round. Clouds have no constant resemblance to anything, blown by a hot wind, flying mirages; the blue background, light constructions of chance. To hold back chaos I transformed amorphous mass and fire and cloud so that the agèd gods might dance and golden structures form. I should have built, plain brick on brick, a water tower. The sun flies on arid wastes, barren hells too warm and me with a hazel stick! Rivulets vanished in the dust long ago, great compositions vaporized, salt on the tongue so thick that drinking, still I thirst. Repeated desert, recurring drought, sometimes hearing water trickle,
sometimes not, I, by doubting first, believe; believing, doubt. Dannie Abse, The Water Diviner from New and Collected Poems, published by Hutchinson. Used by permission of The Random House Group Limited, http://www.randomhouse.co.uk. Source: White Coat Purple Coat: Collected Poems 1948-1988 (1994) Name Period Date Poetry Analysis Worksheet Title of Poem Author Literal Meaning After you read the poem, what does the literal meaning seem to be? What is happening in the poem? Imagery Pick out three uses of imagery and write them below (this will most likely be a phrase or line from the poem), then explain what the poet is trying to convey with this image. 1]. IMAGE: 2]. IMAGE:
3]. IMAGE: Lyric Qualities Describe the sound of this poem. You will use terms like: internal rhyme, rhyme scheme, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and repetition. Find two specific lines or elements of the poem to discuss. List them and then tell what you think they mean. 1]. Lyric Device: 2]. Lyric Device: Figurative Meaning Find at least two figurative devices and explain what they mean. You are looking for terms like: simile, metaphor, allusion, symbolism and personification. 1]. Figurative Device: 2]. Figurative Device:
Theme What do you think is the message of this poem? Why do you think this is the message? Give at least two reasons from the poem these should be answers you ve already written on this sheet Personal Response Did you like this poem? Why/Why not?
Caged Bird Related Poem Content Details BY MAYA ANGELOU A free bird leaps on the back of the wind and floats downstream till the current ends and dips his wing in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky. But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom. The free bird thinks of another breeze and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn and he names the sky his own But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard
on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom. Maya Angelou, Caged Bird from Shaker, Why Don't You Sing? Copyright 1983 by Maya Angelou. Used by permission of Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved. Source: The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou (Random House Inc., 1994) Name Period Date Poetry Analysis Worksheet Title of Poem Author Literal Meaning After you read the poem, what does the literal meaning seem to be? What is happening in the poem? Imagery Pick out three uses of imagery and write them below (this will most likely be a phrase or line from the poem), then explain what the poet is trying to convey with this image. 1]. IMAGE:
2]. IMAGE: 3]. IMAGE: Lyric Qualities Describe the sound of this poem. You will use terms like: internal rhyme, rhyme scheme, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and repetition. Find two specific lines or elements of the poem to discuss. List them and then tell what you think they mean. 1]. Lyric Device: 2]. Lyric Device: Figurative Meaning Find at least two figurative devices and explain what they mean. You are looking for terms like: simile, metaphor, allusion, symbolism and personification. 1]. Figurative Device: 2]. Figurative Device:
Theme What do you think is the message of this poem? Why do you think this is the message? Give at least two reasons from the poem these should be answers you ve already written on this sheet Personal Response Did you like this poem? Why/Why not?