WALT WHITMAN BIRTHPLACE Association

Read Whitman’s poetry and compose an original poem in imitation of Whitman’s style according to the steps below and based on this years theme:

There are many kinds of crossings: crossings by boat, bus, jet, car, bike, UFO, skateboard, or just crossing the street by foot. Also a crossing could be developmental (small to tall, child to teenager), or emotional (falling in love, losing a loved one, gaining a sibling), or intellectual (crossing to a new understanding or realization—what you knew then, what you know now and how you got there). And, of course, birth and death, are the crossings in and out of this life.

Step 1 q Brainstorm a list of 20 elements that occur to you when you reflect upon the theme and circle the one or two that everyone who thinks of the theme will naturally write about and avoid writing about those common elements. Use this list as a basis for your poem. SAVE THIS TO ATTACH TO THE FINAL DRAFT LATER.

Step 2 q Make a list of images that occur to your imagination when you think of the remaining topics and be sure to identify at least one description (image) for each sense! IMAGERY—USE ALL FIVE SENSES SAVE THIS TO ATTACH TO THE FINAL DRAFT LATER.

Step 3 q Create a simile or metaphor that might be employed like a tool to the rough wood of your poem. SAVE THIS TO ATTACH TO THE FINAL DRAFT LATER.

Step 4 q What word or phrase might sound best repeated in your poem? Make a list of ten and circle the most common then avoid them like the plague and hand write your rough draft any length poem up to 2 pages (15 lines minimum). Be sure that you do not RHYME—this is free verse irregular line length is ok! SAVE THIS TO ATTACH TO THE FINAL DRAFT LATER.

Step 5 q Follow the directions below to format your poem -- The final version should be typed (Times New Roman and Size 12 font) and stapled to prior work poems MUST have the following information on EACH page:

a) poem title and entrance category: Category D – Individual poem, grades 9-10 or Category E – Individual poem, grades 11-12 b) entrant’s name, complete address, home phone number, age and grade level

SAMPLE OF WHITMAN’S STYLE:

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry ------Walt Whitman (1856)

Crowds of men and women attired in the usual costumes, how curious they are to me!

On the ferry-boats the hundreds and hundreds that cross, returning home, are more curious to me than you suppose;

And you that shall cross from shore to shore years hence are more to me, and more in my meditations, than you might suppose.

I HEAR America singing, the varied carols I hear;
Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong;
The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work;
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat—the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck;	5
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench—the hatter singing as he stands;
The wood-cutter’s song—the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown;
The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young wife at work—or of the girl sewing or washing—Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;
The day what belongs to the day—At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.

When you read these two poems try to imagine the voice and the person who stands behind them-- How would you describe the author? What Techniques do they use?

SAMPLE OF WHITMAN’S STYLE:

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry ------Walt Whitman (1856)