To TURNITIN before your next Poetry Day (Tue/Wed Sep 5/6), please submit an original animal poem.
This is poem about an animal of your choice. You don’t have to rhyme, but can if you want to. And just to clarify, this poem is about an animal, not in the voice of an animal. The speaker of the poem is you, not the animal. The voice we hear is yours, not the animal’s.
As you choose an animal and compose your poem about this creature, keep in mind what Milosz and Horace have written about the purpose of poetry. For me, the idea of empathy appears in both men’s statements. See our first Poetry Day handouts to remind yourself of their statements. Here’s my summary of the common idea in the two excerpts: we naturally want to connect with other human beings. It is in our nature to connect with other people. The purpose of, the power of, poetry is in making these connections with people who read or hear our poem.
So, in this poem assignment you are describing a particular animal, as Rilke has done with the panther and gazelle. As you write (draft, review, revise, and refine), have an eye toward connecting with readers and hearers of your poem. When we see details in your description, we also feel a connection to you and other humans.
Oh, and use at least 15 lines in making your poem. Try to employ one or more of the poetic tools introduced during our first Poetry Day–i.e., alliteration, run-on lines, or hyperbole. Good luck. Have fun. Use the time you have. Let the poem take shape over time, rather than try to rush something off the night before.
