Art of Language 10: CADENCE page 3

Read the three poems below.

PICK ONE POEM — and do the following:

1 — Write down one phrase that really sounds nice to you.

2 — Write down three words that really sound nice to you.

3 — Write down an alternative TITLE for the poem, in your own words.

—

“Lone Dog” by Irene McLeod

I’m a lean dog, a keen dog, a wild dog and lone,

I’m a rough dog, a tough dog, hunting on my own!

I’m a bad dog, a mad dog, teasing silly sheep;

I love to sit and bay the moon and keep fat souls from sleep.

 

I’ll never be a lap dog, licking dirty feet,

A sleek dog, a meek dog, cringing for my meat.

Not for me the fireside, the well-filled plate,

But shut door and sharp stone and cuff and kick and hate.

 

Not for me the other dogs, running by my side,

Some have run a short while, but none of them would bide.

O mine is still the lone trail, the hard trail, the best,

Wide wind and wild stars and the hunger of the quest.

—

“The Marrog” by R.C. Scriven

My desk’s at the back of the class

And nobody nobody knows

I’m a marrog from Mars

With a body of brass

And seventeen fingers and toes.

Wouldn’t they shriek if they knew

I’ve three eyes at the back of my head

And my hair is bright purple

My nose is deep blue

And my teeth are half yellow half red?

My five arms are silver, and spiked with knives on them …

… sharper than spears

I could go back right now if I liked –

And return in a million light years.

I could gobble them all for

I’m seven foot tall

And I’m breathing green flames from my ears.

Wouldn’t they yell if they knew

If they guessed that a Marrog was here?

Ha-ha they haven’t a clue –

Or wouldn’t they tremble with fear!

Look, look, a Marrog

They’d all scream – and SMACK.

The blackboard would fall and the ceiling would crack

And the teacher would faint I suppose.

But I grin to myself sitting right at the back

And Nobody nobody knows.

—

“I’ve Had This Shirt” by Michael Rosen

I’ve had this shirt

that’s covered in dirt

for years and years and years.

 

It used to be red

but I wore it in bed

and it went grey

cos I wore it all day

for years and years and years.

 

The arms fell off

in the Monday wash

and you can see my vest

through the holes in the chest

for years and years and years.

 

As my shirt falls apart

I’ll keep the bits

in a biscuit tin

on the mantelpiece

for years and years and years.