For your first blog post,  worth a quiz grade,  you must write a poem about yourself through the perspective of someone else. This perspective can be through the eyes of a parent or guardian, a sibling, another family member, a pet, a teacher, a co-worker,  someone at a store, or anyone else you may think of. This poem should reveal something about you without directly saying it. This poem does NOT have a set format, although it must be 10-15 lines long.

This is due at the end of class today, September 9th, 2015. 

Sample:

Ms. Barbour, through her dog's eyes:

When I'm hungry, she is the one I go to.
I jump up and down, up and down, up and down until she notices me.
I know it's not time for "breakfast" or "dinner" as she calls them,
but I'll try to win this battle and get my food.
If this doesn't work, she'll tell me it's too early, then wink and give me a treat.
When I'm feeling like the world is going to cave in, she's the one I trust.
She'll hold me close and scratch my ears, soothing me.
In return, I'll give her kisses and protect her from the wind, garbage truck, and doorbell to the best of my ability.
Nothing is better than when she holds me tight and says, "You're my little guy."
She is my world, and there's nobody else I'd rather have as my human.

When you're writing your sestina, you can visit THIS LINK to plug in your words and follow the sestina format!

This piece also helps.

Also, this is the article we read in class.

Happy writing, my dears!

Hey folks! I just wanted to share with you the trailer for the documentary we started watching today in class, Louder Than a Bomb. It made me happy to see how excited you all were about our Slam Poetry club!

Our week at a glance:

• Monday (D Day)- go over examples of blues poetry
• Tuesday (A Day)- No class
• Wednesday (B Day)- Writing Day
• Thursday (C Day)- Workshop Day (blues poems due!!)

Also, Back to School night is this Thursday at 6pm. I look forward to meeting your parents and guardians!!

Some of you questioned whether or not I was a poet today in class. I think everyone has the potential to be a poet. I've slacked in performing poetry over the past year, but here's a photo from an Open Mic in Highland Park.

Here's a poem I wrote in response to a poem by Mark Doty that we'll look at later on in the semester. 

Have a great weekend!!
-Ms. Barbour

“What Could We Do”

“…what could he do,
what could any of us ever do
but ask for it?”

It is incredibly moving
to realize the power
of words left unspoken.

When words are left unsaid–
or, perhaps,
unsaid to their subject–

what power is stripped away
from both the speaker
and the current topic?

To think the subject is unaware
of the mere commonality
of being a conversation piece

is, plainly put, stupid,
but they continue to beat on
against the rhythm of their own stupidity.

When callous words are spoken–
perhaps out of fear, or misunderstanding–
the power of the words are stripped.

Inquire, desire, dive into the truth,
whether it be through a questioning
or through small talk,

and fulfill your needs
to know the truth
without being cruel,

for the cruelest of moments
happen
in the most innocent passings.

Speak your truth.
Defy the heartless.
Rise above the rest,

and stay at ease with an open heart.
What can any of us ever do
but ask for that?