I POEM Format

FIRST STANZA
I am (two special characteristics you have)
I wonder (something you are actually curious about)
I hear (an imaginary sound)
I see (an imaginary sight)
I want (an actual desire)
I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

SECOND STANZA
I pretend (something you actually pretend to do)
I feel (a feeling about something imaginary)
I touch (an imaginary touch)
I worry (something that really bothers you)
I cry (something that makes you very sad)
I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

THIRD STANZA
I understand (something you know is true)
I say (something you believe in)
I dream (something you actually dream about)
I try (something you really make an effort to do)
I hope (something you actually hope for)
I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

 

I POEM Resources

 

Baylor, Byrd. Desert Voices.

Bouchard, David. Voices from the Wild: An Animal Sensagoria

Bunting, Eve. I Am the Mummy Heb-Nefert

Crozat, Francois.  I am a little elephant.

Hall, Donald.  I am the Dog.  I am the Cat.

George, Kristin O’Connell. Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems

Karas, G. Brian. Atlantic.

Janeczko, Paul. Dirty Laundry Pile: Poems in Different Voices.

Locker, Thomas. Water Dance.

Marzollo, Jean.  I Am an Apple.

Marzollo, Jean.  I Am Water.

Marzollo, Jean.  I’m a Seed.

Mitton, Jacqueline.  Kingdom of the Sun: A Book of the Planets.

Murphy, Claire.  I Am Sacajawea, I Am York.

Sidman, Joyce. Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow                                        Sidman, Joyce. Eureka! Poems about Inventors.

Siebert, Diane. Heartland.

Siebert, Diane.  Sierra.

Siebert, Diane.  Mississippi.

Siebert, Diane.  Mojave.

Singer, Marilyn. Turtle in July.

Stille, Darlene.  I Am a Shark.

 

*Another part of the workshop is to read the informational book you selected about a topic: person, place, or animal.  As you read, use your journal to note any facts of interest about your topic.

 

Use the facts that you have noted as well as your imagination to draft an “I” poem.  Your poem should:

 

*reveal factual information about the topic

*include precise and interesting words

*provide readers with a sense of wonder about the topic, something that might not be noticed or considered by just a superficial listing of facts or characteristics.  Perhaps this sense of wonder might be conveyed through the use of a surprising comparison. 

*provide a reference for the informational text that inspired your poem.

 

 

 

sources