Creative writing Let s write poetry! A form poem A form poem consists of four lines. The first and third lines contain four words each, and they rhyme with each other. The second and fourth lines contain three words each, and they rhyme with each other. A form poem doesn t have to be written in sentences. Single words, separated with commas, are also used in this style. The bush at dawn Silent, secret, shadowed, cold, Damp, dark, grey; Hungry, stalking, deadly, bold, small, frightened prey. A syllable poem A syllable poem is more complicated. The first line must contain one syllable; the second line two, and so on until line five, and then back to one again. To do this, you have to listen carefully to the sound of each word, and count the syllables every line contains. Baby monkeys tails snake-like, eyes big as saucers in the romping, leaping trees, and clinging on to mother as she goes. A haiku A haiku has three lines, the first containing five syllables, the second seven and the third five again. It should be grammatically correct. The hunter Leopard in a tree: Watching, patient, as below Gentle kudu pass. 59
A Dylan Thomas portrait A Dylan Thomas portrait always starts with Did you ever see a...? or Did you ever hear a...? The second line does not follow a fixed form, but should contain alliteration and vivid, descriptive words, often hyphenated to make compound adjectives, to describe the thing mentioned in the first line. Mixed feelings Did you ever see an eagle? wide-winged, wind-lifted, finger-feathered, cruel. Use colourful adjectives and adverbs, and even alliteration, to create vivid images, and remember to make each poem a personal account. Every picture in your mind is special and your very own. The words you use to describe it are special too. So come on... feel free to be creative. Poetry for fun and enjoyment If you like reading about animals you would greatly enjoy finding the poetry books in your library and reading the poems about animals. They are easy to understand, often very funny and sometimes very sad. Still, wonderful stuff to read! So go on and read a few and who knows: you might even write a few! 60
Poetry The world of the spear fisherman is an enchanting one, but it also holds hidden terrors for the unwary. Spear fisherman This motion is akin to flight The easy flick-flippered limb Drifting me on thoughts emerald light Over a silent world, where bright And rainbow-painted fishes swim. Here lies a land that few men know. This is a scene beyond belief, Where in the softly glow The tinted corals live and grow. This is the jungle of the reef. This is the jungle of the sea That hides beneath its glowing charm The groper s blind ferocity, The shark s cold animosity, The coral s many-razored arms. I am the hunter and the prey; Feared but also knowing fear. Watchful for death, yet swift to slay; My weapons on this lone foray My skill, my courage and my spear. What is the charm that lures me? What has the savage reef to give? Here, only here, complete and free In the cool beauty of the sea I walk with danger and I live. George Makin 61
Thinking about the poem 1. Reread the first stanza. What picture do you have of the spear fisherman? 2. Why does the spear fisherman enjoy this activity so much? 3. Fill in the spaces below with descriptive words from the poem a....limb d....reef b....light e....corals c....fishes f....world 4. How can the spear fisherman be both the hunter and the prey? 5. Why must the spear fisherman be very careful of the groper? 6. How can the coral harm the spear fisherman? 7. What qualities does he have which will enable him to survive beneath the sea? 8. What feelings does the spear fisherman have as he swims around the reef? 9. What kind of person do you think the spear fisherman is? Explain your viewpoint. 10. Match up these words from the poem with their meanings in the box that follows: a. foray b. animosity c. tinted d. lures e. akin attracts similar coloured hostility raid 62
The moral of the story Read the story. The rooster and the fox Once there was a rooster named Chanticleer. Now this rooster thought himself to be the most handsome rooster in the world. It didn t bother him that he had never seen another rooster. His mother had always told him that he was a handsome fellow, and he was happy to believe her. One day Chanticleer sat on a fence rail, sunning himself. Russell the fox padded out of the forest and along the fence. When he saw Chanticleer, he stopped and stared. Chanticleer shifted nervously on the fence rail. What do you want, Russell? he asked sharply. Nothing, Russell replied. I heard that you were the most handsome rooster in the world. I just had to come and see for myself. Oh, my! Chanticleer said, tossing his head and preening. And do you agree, now that you have seen me? Yes, Russell answered, not taking his eyes from the plump rooster. But I also heard that you re the best crower in the world. They say nobody can sing like you. Now if you ve ever heard a rooster crow, you know that this was a horrible lie. Roosters are certainly loud when they crow, but no one can mistake crowing for singing. Yet Chanticleer was so proud and silly that he decided to believe the fox. Above all else, Russell said craftily, I would like to hear you. Russell knew that no rooster can crow very well unless he closes his eyes, stretches his neck, and stands on tiptoe, for it is the nature of a rooster to exaggerate everything. Then I will crow for you, said Chanticleer. He closed his eyes, stretched his neck, stood on his toes, and crowed. As quick as a wink, Russell had the rooster s throat in his teeth and was on his way into the forest. The alarmed squawks of the hens brought the farmer and his wife on the run. After them! the farmer cried. Coll, the dog, bayed and chased the wily fox. The farmer grabbed a shovel and hurried after them. Meanwhile Chanticleer regained his senses. Oh, my foolish pride! he thought. What can I do? Then he squawked aloud, How silly are the farmer and his wife! They can t catch you! The fox grunted in agreement, not wanting to loosen his grip on the rooster s neck. If I were you, the rooster continued, I would turn around and laugh at those people for being so foolish as to think they can catch you. The fox half turned, watching the awkward, lumbering run of the old farmer. A grin stretched his lips. But when he caught sight of the farmer s wife bouncing angrily along far behind, he opened his mouth and laughed out loud. No sooner had the fox opened his mouth than Chanticleer leaped away and awkwardly flew up into a low branch, out of Russell s reach. Oh, my pride! Russell exclaimed. We are both proud fools, Russell, said the rooster from his safe perch. But I got the best of you this time! 63
Underline the moral of the story. Handsome is as handsome does. Pride goes before destruction. Singing is a foolish occupation. Questions Use complete sentences for your answer. 1. What was Chanticleer s first mistake? 2. What did Chanticleer say that tells you he was sorry for having been so proud? 3. What was Russell s first mistake? 4. What did Russell say that tells you he was sorry for having been so proud? 5. What should both the rooster and the fox have done differently? 64