LS 5663 Spring 2012: Poetry Performance

Module 5:  Sidman Poetry

Bibliographic information:


Sidman, Joyce, and Pamela Zagarenski. This is just to say: poems of apology and forgiveness. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2007. ISBN: 9781428735682

Review:

Joyce Sidman is the author of many award-winning children’s poetry books. Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night was awarded the Newberry Honor. Two of her books that are Caldecott Honor winners are Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems, it also won a Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors, which also won the Claudia Lewis Poetry Award. She teaches poetry writing to school children and participates in many national poetry events.

This Is Just To Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness, is a beautiful poetry collection written by students who worked with their teacher and Sidman to publish poems of hope, compassion and empathy. Since each poem is written by a different poet, the variety of voice is exciting and appealing. Readers are able to understand the personal feelings of each poet as he/ she deals with shame, regret, confession and pardon.

Divided into two parts, Part 1: Apologies and Part 2: Responses, the collection is arranged with one poem on each page accompanied by Pamela Zagarenski’s bright, collage and computer graphics illustrations. There is a table of contents to help readers locate specific poems or responses but no index is provided. An introduction by a student editor explains the context in which these poems were written allows readers to have a better understanding of the emotion behind each poem.



Highlighted Poems:

(to Maria)

Not Really

I’m sorry I bumped your books that day

And scattered them all over

(but not really).

I’m sorry your locker mirror disappeared

And mysteriously ended up in my desk

(but not really).

I’m sorry I pulled that clip out of your hair

And you had to chase me down the hall

(but not really).

I’m sorry I made you yell at me

Till your face got red and your eyes sparkled

(but not really).

I’m sorry you keep saying

You won’t go out with me.

(Really.)

by Bobby

(to Bobby)

What Girls Want

Girls want a lion with a great shaggy mane.

Girls want a horse, fast and sure.

Girls want a coyote that sings with its heart.

Girls want an eagle, soaring through mountains.

Girls want a breeze that whispers its name.

Girls want a snowfall that makes the world new.

Girls want a dog that wags all over.

Girls want a cat that purrs to the moon.

Girls want a hedgehog that carries it own armor

But doesn’t

Always

Use it.

Just to let you know.

by Maria



Introduction/Activity:

7th grade: poetic element-repetition or pattern

Discuss how poets use patterns and repetition to emphasize the mood or tome of their poem. Ask students, “What sorts of moods are created when patterns are used?” Once upbeat/fun, somber or serious are mentioned, re-read Not Really by Bobby and Maria’s response, What Girls Want. Have students explain the tones the poems convey by repenting certain phrases. Working with a partner, allow students to create two responsive poems using repetition to evoke a specific mood or tone and perform them with their partner.