learning goal: refine my understanding of the character I am creating by imagining that person composing a poem in his/her voice
after a public reading, briefly discuss the poem “Home*,” (one of the UNHCR poems introduced last Poetry Friday)
with any remaining time, begin composing lines in the voice of your new story’s main character–ideally lines about this person’s description of or feelings about home
Home
I come from a house of crumbling stone walls
where the ceiling stretches up to the stars in the sky
No windows or doors to speak of
No marble pillars of support
No safety or warmth
Only a place to stay
When I was young I used to long
For a house with four walls and a roof
Glass windows that let in the sunshine
but kept out the wind
wooden doors and marble pillars
and a heater to keep us warm.
But time has passed and I have grown
I no longer seek that futile dream
For though the battles still rage endlessly outside
I am safe
Walls built from bricks of courage
A ceiling laced together with hope
No windows or doors – only my eyes and ears
No marble pillars of support-only mama and papa
No need for heaters, for our love is enough
This is not a just place
It is my home.
Milly Wang
Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute, Grade 11
Age 17
3rd Prize – 2011