Poem Links

1. Casandra Lopez – Hottest June: https://poets.org/poem/hottest-june
2. Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo – Battlegrounds https://poets.org/poem/battlegrounds
3. W.S. Merwin – By Day and by Night https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=28889

This assignment is a combined reading and writing exercise, and your impressions are expected as though applying the literary theory of the reader’s response to the poem you choose to read from the wide selection below.

Enter a typed text separating the analyses of the poems into paragraphs as if writing brief paragraph (mini) essays for each. Type 350-400 words and enter observations and impressions about 3-4 poems, relaying your reactions after reading each one of the poems you’ve chosen to read at least twice. Record your physical responses to poetry from your first read and how you made sense of words, imagery, metaphor, etc., on the second read. This response is expected to be subjective since reading literature is subjective. However, we will strive in this class to write objectively and make strong arguments as we analyze other forms and genres of literature. Poetry is the ideal form of literature to generate such a sensual reaction to the poems. Think of how your senses react to metaphors alluding to or appealing to your five senses.