Some Other Voices

Browse the work of at least 5 of these poets, and find one whose voice speaks to you:

Maya Angelou Gwendolyn Brooks Staceyann Chin

Lucille Clifton Rita Dove Nikky Finney Nikki Giovanni

Lauryn Hill June Jordan Sarah Kay Audre Lorde

Lin Manuel Miranda Anis Mojgani Naomi Shihab Nye Jamal Parker

Claudia Rankine Danez Smith Tupac Shakur Ntozanke Shange

Tracy K. Smith Paul Tran Crystal Valentine

Nayyirah Waheed Alice Walker

Cason - Danez Smith

Brayden - Lin Manuel Miranda

Anna - Staceyann Chin or Lauryn Hill

Cliff - Paul Tran

Nate - Jamal Parker

Ava - Sarah Kay

Luna - Audre Lorde

Kailee - Tupac

Aaron - Anis Mojgani

1. Send us links to the three poems you want us to read.

2. Read us one of the poems, and explain:

a. enough about the poet's biography that we know where s/he is coming from.

b. why you chose this poet.

c. what this favorite poem is about, and why it's important to you.

d. two different specific, crazy-good phrases or images. What's deep about each?

e. what issue(s) is important to this poet, and what message the poet sends about it.

f. a connection between this author and any other American author we've studied.

(Make a slide presentation to guide us, and lead discussion.)

3. Read the poem again. Now we'll REALLY hear it.

4. For your portfolio, write a poem in the style and/or with the concerns of your poet. Share it with all of us.