Our Narrative Writing unit was also our Poetry unit. During which, we were required to write and submit five different "Tell the World" poems; tell the world about you, tell the world about a special place, tell the world what you think, tell the world what you love (an ode), and tell the world about what you feel (in the form of a letter to an emotion). Each poem had to contain figurative language — such as similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole — and/or sound devices — such as onomatopoeia, alliteration, rhyme, slant-rhyme, rhythm, rhyme-scheme, repetition, etc. In class, we also filled out a poetry packet that taught us how to identify parts of poetry — i.e. voice, tone, mood, theme, denotation, connotation, diction, rhyme scheme, and other figurative language, as well as sound devices. We finished off our unit with a Poetry Slam where we each got to recite one-to-two poems. I got first place in my class and got to continue to the next round. I'll be sure to add how it went.

Daniel Gorel

Mrs. Muñoz-Matheny

English 9, Period 4

16 January 2020

A Day At The Beach

As the Wind whispers in my ear, I can’t help but feel the fear

That Night would soon fall; It beckons, calls.

Like the Wind, the Sea, the Sky, would I change? The thought is strange.

I continue to long for Day, but, sadly, I know It cannot stay.

As I look up at the Sky, I feel the air cool and dry.

The subtle change from light to dark; the silhouettes so very stark.

How now was it so clear if it could change by a whisper in my ear?

As I smell the salty air, and feel the Wind blowing through my hair,

I reach my cold hands into the sand,

I feel the tide against my feet; the salty air now a thick sheet.

As I gaze upon the Sea, for the Sun to stay, I plea.

But the gold becomes bronze; the light is the Dusk’s, not the Dawn’s.

As I taste the bittersweet air of the cusp still incomplete,

I think to myself of how the calm is no longer just a qualm;

The birds mellow, the Wind bellows;

The Night is young and the Day is gone. And yet, life goes on.

Image Source: https://www.shutterstock.com

Daniel Gorel

Mrs. Muñoz-Matheny

English 9, Period 4

7 February 2020

Ode to David Ben-Gurion

You are the John Adams of the Jews. You helped when we had nothing left to lose.

You helped make Israel independent; with your guidance we became much more ascendant.

You united the militias to help us fight the vicious.

You united our people and made us feel equal.

You were a Zionist leader, you made us strong after our weakest.

You protected our creeds, sir, you made us hopeful when things seemed bleakest.

You’ve been a member of the Knesset, and even Prime Minister.

Thank you for the freedom you’ve set, and the possibilities you’ve administered.

You fought to give me a better life before I’d even been born;

You’ve mended our society after it had been torn.

You gave my family a place to live.

You helped us learn how to forgive.

ועכשיו אנו מסתכלים על הבא

בן גוריון, תודה רבה

Image Source: https://www.wexnerfoundation.org

Daniel Gorel

Mrs. Muñoz-Matheny

English 9, Period 4

23 January 2020

Anger

Anger;

You are a cruel and ruthless endeavor.

You are the Puppetmaster and I your automaton.

You possess me like a demon and I lose control.

The most irate I feel is when I deal with you.

You ́ve a firm grasp on reality; from you there's no escaping.

You are an inevitable medium through which we express our deepest, darkest thoughts.

You pervade regret like butter on toast.

You, the specter, and I, your host.

You blind me, leave me in a field of lamentation and drive away.

I am only glad that you cannot stay.

You lock me in a cellar and throw away the key.

You are a terror, don ́t you see?

The aftermath is as inevitable as you;

You know this to be true!

More addictive than drugs,

More devastating than destruction,

You are the voice whispering in my ear.

You are a monster that feeds on fear.

To overcome is to persevere;

Our grief is our own Cross to bear.

You are cruel,

You are ruthless,

And you ́re devastating.

But I shall prevail;

*Don't tread on me.

This is an allusion to the flag designed by Christopher Gadsden — just to be clear.

Image Source: https://patriotdepot.com

During this unit, I feel as though I managed my time, planned and presented well. I managed my time well by utilizing time provided in class to work on my poems, as well as by turning them in on time. I planned well by setting aside extra time to finish and revise my poems — especially the ones I read for the Poetry Slam; the first two of the three poems above. I presented well by meeting our criteria; I looked up an appropriate amount while reciting my poems, I projected and I paced myself so I could clearly get my message across while also grabbing the audience's attention. I really enjoyed this unit; I now feel as though I can better express myself through, well, poetry. I feel as though some of my poems did not reflect my best work however, so I wrote a second ode for the competition (the Ode to David Ben-Gurion). In the future, I can improve on my collaborating and critical-thinking skills. I believe that I did not utilize all the resources provided that could have helped me improve my poetry — the thoughts and suggestions of my peers (we practiced reciting our poetry in smaller groups before the Poetry Slam). I can avoid doing this next time and, ergo, collaborate better. I think that — when I revised most of my poems — I could have thought more critically and done a better job keeping all the skills we had acquired in class in mind to better improve their rhythm, relevance, power, etc.