Poems

Hello, and welcome to Myriora English! A poem can look harder than a story, because it uses so few words. But you can read every poem with the same three steps. What is it saying? How does it feel? And what has the poet done with the words?

Here's a short poem. The rain comes down the window pane, like fingers tapping, soft and slow. It taps, and taps, and taps again, and says there's nowhere I can go. Step one: say what's happening, in plain words. It's raining, and someone is stuck indoors.

Step two: how does it feel? Look for the words that give you a clue. Soft and slow are quiet words. Nowhere I can go sounds fed up, and a little lonely. So the poem feels quiet and a little sad.

Step three: what has the poet done with the words? Like fingers tapping is a simile, because it compares two things using the word like. It lets us hear the rain. Taps, and taps, and taps again is repetition. It makes the rain seem to go on and on.

Let's try one together. Does this poem feel calm, angry or excited? Here's a tip: look for the words that give you a clue. Say it out loud!

The answer is calm! The clues are blanket, quiet and still.

Here's a common mistake. Saying it uses a simile, and then stopping. That only names the tool. You also need to say what it does. The simile lets us hear the rain.

Your turn! Read the poem. How does it feel? Pick the right card. You've got fifteen seconds, or pause the video. Go!

Time's up! It feels wild and noisy! The clues are shouting, slammed and shook.

Quick review. First, say what's happening, in plain words. Next, find the words that show how it feels. Then, look at what the poet has done with the words. And say what each one does. See you next time!