Pretty Ugly- a poem by Abdullah Shoaib

Shoaib, A. (2018). Pretty Ugly. Retrieved, September 30, 2018, from https://www.goodthingsguy.com/opinion/pretty-ugly-poem/

Pretty Ugly Poem (poem, above grade level, teacher led and peer supported)

This modern poem by Abdullah Shoaib is provocative. When you read it from the top, it states that you are “pretty ugly”. But when the reader gets to the end of the poem, the poet tells you to read it backwards and that is when the reader gets the real message of the poem. The text of this poem is at grade level, but the complexities of the message is above grade level. This poem will create an important discussion in class about perspective. Many students feel “pretty ugly”, similar to Auggie’s feelings in “Wonder” but it’s important for them to know that they are not; every student is beautiful in their own way. This poem speaks to this message.

This poem can be used to teach the standard CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.2 which requires students to determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text. Students will be asked to read the poem top to bottom and then bottom to top and explain the theme. The poem states, “I am very ugly, so don’t try to convince me that I’m a very beautiful person”. But if you read it backwards, it states, “I’m a very beautiful person, so don’t try to convince me that I am very ugly”. This theme of self acceptance and perspective is complex but a teacher led discussion will help students access this text.