Poems for Peace (Portfolio Assignment)

Write at least 3 different pieces on the theme of peace and/or war. Make sure that:

·  You include rich and vivid details (8.3).

·  You include a few literary devices (simile, metaphor, alliteration, onomatopoeia, personification, foreshadowing, symbolism, irony, hyperbole) (8.3).

·  Your poems are well-organized and flow well (9.2).

·  You ask for and use feedback to improve your pieces (9.3).

·  You thoroughly revise and edit your pieces (10.1).

·  You use correct spelling and grammar (10.2).

·  You demonstrate a commitment to the craft of writing (10.4)

Activity / Description / Example
1- Defining Peace / Begin with a list of what peace is not. Then tell what peace is. / Love
Love is not a kick in the face
Love is not a ball you can play with
Love is not always what it appears to be
Love is not a feeling that you can ignore
But I’ll tell you what love is
Love is trust
Love is pain
Love is fresh-baked cookies coming out of the oven
Love is crying at a movie
Love lifts you up where you belong
Love is all you need.
2-Recipe / Write a recipe poem about peace or war. / Recipe for Peace
by Devreaux Baker
Bare your feet, roll up your sleeves
oil the immigrant's bowl
open the doors and windows of your house
invite in the neighbors, invite in strangers off the street
roll out the dough, add the spices for a good life
cardamon and soul, cumin and tears
stir in sesame and sorrow, a dash of salt
pink as new hope…
3-Points of view / Write about what peace and/or war means to different people.
Any of these may be used as characters to explore their points of view, and of course you’re free to introduceyour own:
Child… Dragon… Mother… Orphan… Politician… Poet… Rich man…Baby… Farmer… Clown… Hero… Shark… Snake… Homeless person… Ghost… Bride… / When the blind man listens to peace
he hears children singing
When the soldier looks at peace
shadows leave his heart and disappear
When the old woman asked for peace
she smiled and died
When all the oceans sing of peace
the world will relax…
4-Peace/ War Speaks / Write an “I” peace poem as though peace is speaking. / My name is peace
I am alive in your heart…
5-Speaking to Peace/ War / Write a “you” poem as though you’re talking to peace/war. / I often think of you. Often
I wish you were here
In the world…
6-Skinny Peace / War poems / Write a poem made up of metaphors about peace/ war. / Peace
is a flock
of soft
white birds
flying around
in the high
blue sky
looking for
a safe place / to land
& build
their nests
Peace is
when
a baby
looks into
your eyes
and smiles.
7- Your choice! / Want to write a different type of poem (for instance, free verse)? Or a short scene that is about peace/war? Just run your idea by me first.