1. Go Mexican – Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with:
   • Food, perhaps an ode to tamales, or other dish.’
   • Language: the language itself or the poets, actors, telenovelas
   • Ancient empires: Aztec, Toltec, Mixtec, Mayan
   • Mexico under Spanish rule: write of this history
2. In honor of Mother’s Day
   • Write a memory of your mother, grandmother or surrogate mother.
   • Write to the mother your child will one day be, or yourself as a future mother
3. Celebrate Spring
   • Write an ode to your favorite Spring flower.
   • What makes you think of Spring?
4. Memorial Day
   • Perhaps write about why this day is celebrated in May.
   • Write your message to those who serve or have served in the armed services.
   • Have you a special memory of this date and a special someone to remember?
   • Imagine you are the keynote speaker on this day. What would you say?

 

 

 

1. Go Mexican – Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with:
   • Food, perhaps an ode to tamales, or other dish.’
   • Language: the language itself or the poets, actors, telenovelas
   • Ancient empires: Aztec, Toltec, Mixtec, Mayan
   • Mexico under Spanish rule: write of this history
2. In honor of Mother’s Day
   • Write a memory of your mother, grandmother or surrogate mother.
   • Write to the mother your child will one day be, or yourself as a future mother
3. Celebrate Spring
   • Write an ode to your favorite Spring flower.
   • What makes you think of Spring?
4. Memorial Day
   • Perhaps write about why this day is celebrated in May.
   • Write your message to those who serve or have served in the armed services.
   • Have you a special memory of this date and a special someone to remember?
   • Imagine you are the keynote speaker on this day. What would you say?

1. How do you define poetry?
2. Defend the need for poets and poetry in any society.
3. April is also the National Humor Month. Try writing a limerick
   • Line 1 and 2 are 9 syllables and rhyme is same sound. (“A” rhyme)
   • Line 3 and 4 are 6 syllables and rhyme each other. (“B” rhyme)
   • Line 5 is same pattern and rhyme as lines 1 and 2.
   • Example from A Book of Nonsense—
     There was an old man with a beard
     Who said, “It is just as I feared.
     Two owls and a hen
     A lark and a wren
     Have all built a nest in my beard.
4. April 23 is English Language Day, World Book Day and the birthday of William Shakespeare.
   • Do you have a favorite book or author? Explain why.
   • Pick a favorite quote, sonnet or monologue from Shakespeare and rewrite it for today’s world.
5. Is English the best language for poetry? Why or why not?

 

 

 

1. How do you define poetry?
2. Defend the need for poets and poetry in any society.
3. April is also the National Humor Month. Try writing a limerick
   • Line 1 and 2 are 9 syllables and rhyme is same sound. (“A” rhyme)
   • Line 3 and 4 are 6 syllables and rhyme each other. (“B” rhyme)
   • Line 5 is same pattern and rhyme as lines 1 and 2.
   • Example from A Book of Nonsense—
     There was an old man with a beard
     Who said, “It is just as I feared.
     Two owls and a hen
     A lark and a wren
     Have all built a nest in my beard.
4. April 23 is English Language Day, World Book Day and the birthday of William Shakespeare.
   • Do you have a favorite book or author? Explain why.
   • Pick a favorite quote, sonnet or monologue from Shakespeare and rewrite it for today’s world.
5. Is English the best language for poetry? Why or why not?

 

 

 

1. Is there a bit of Irish in your family tree, or does the word “Irish” just spark images in your mind?
   1. Share your heritage with a family story.
   2. Are you a fan of fairies and “wee folk”, why? Spin a fanciful tale where they might appear.
2. Is there a woman that you admire, living or not, famous or not?
   1. Write an elegy for her.
   2. Do you wish you were a woman to admire? Write a letter to your current self from that future woman.
3. School reunions, fun or sad?
   1. What would you hope to see, experience at your next (or first) reunion?
   2. What would you write about in your journal after the reunion is over?
   3. Inspired by Kathleen Roxby’s poem to write your own portrait of a classmate? Give it a try.