1. Read the following poem: "Remember" by Joy Harjo
Take some notes on the additional information given in the highlighted sections you can click on in this poem. Information is given about your speaker and the techniques Harjo uses within the poem, as well as the main messages of the poem. Concentrate on these questions:
a. Who is Joy Harjo as a speaker in this poem? How is the poem reflective of her heritage and life experiences?
b. What are some pieces of advice that Harjo offers in this poem? How might they apply to you, as her reader?
2. Next, read these three poems of similar theme and discuss how each of them treat the subject of "remembering" or "forgetting".
"Heart, we will forget him!" by Emily Dickinson
"Forgetfulness" by Billy Collins
"I Go Back" by Kenny Chesney
"I Remember, I Remember" by Thomas Hood
"Let It Be Forgotten" by Sara Teasdale
3. Finally, write your own poem about EITHER:
a. the things/people/events you will always remember
b. the things/people/events you would like to forget
c. a theme of your choice related to forgetting or remembering
This original poem of yours should be written in a similar modeled format to one of the poems above. At the end of your poem, you should write a short explanation for how your poem models aspects of the chosen model poem.
This poem will be due on Thursday, 5/15.
