Words and Phrases to Describe Emotions

Amanda Jenkins

RE 5130

October 30, 2002

Listen to the strange way this mother describes her love for her boys.

From I Love You the Purplest

By Barbara M. Joose

“Mama,” whispered Julian,

his hands forming a tunnel around her ear.

“Who do you love best?”

Mama thought for a minute, and then she

whispered, “Why Julian, I love you the bluest!

I love you the color of a dragon fly

at the tip of its wing.

I love you the color of a cave

in its deepest, hidden part

where grizzly bears and bats curl up until night.

The mist of a mountain.

The splash of a waterfall.

The hush of a whisper.”

The breath in Julian’s chest grew and grew

and grew until he couldn’t hold it any longer.

Then it came out in a long, velvety sigh.

Mama crouched low to the bunk where Max slept.
Max wriggled his finger for Mama to come close.
He whispered, "Mama, who do you love best?"

"Why Max, I love you the reddest!
I love you the color of the sky
before it blazes into night.
I love you the color of a leopard's eyes
when it prowls through the jungle,
and the color of a campfire at the edge of the flame.
A wide open hug. The swirl of a magic cape.
The thunder of a shout."

The smile on Max's face grew and grew and grew
until his cheeks couldn't hold it in.
Then it came out in a big, thundery laugh.

How much does she love her boys?

How can you tell?

I don’t know how much love it is to love someone “the splash of a waterfall”. What do you think that means?

Why do you think she picked out the colors of red and blue to describe her love?

What colors would you pick for someone you didn’t like?

What colors would you pick for someone who was a quiet stranger?

What colors are good for sadness? Happiness? Jealousy? Anger?

What mental pictures do you get for Julian’s section? What about for Max’s section?

Let’s rewrite how Mama feels for Julian to express how we feel for someone we love.

Ithought for a minute, and then I

whispered, “Why ______, I love you the ______!

I love you the color of a ______

at the ______.

I love you the color of a _____

in its deepest, hidden part

where ______.

The ______of a ______.

The ______of a ______.

The ______of a ______.”

The breath in ______’s chest grew and grew

and grew until ____ couldn’t hold it any longer.

Then it came out in a long, velvety sigh.

Who would like to share what they have written?

RUBRIC

Did you use a color in the same places that the author did?

Did you fill in the blanks with some unusual descriptions?

Does your writing have some mental pictures in it?