Yan's Poetry Archive

Albeit only ten poems hehe. i personally like modern poetry and pretty much like teaching local poetry because students are able to connect with them better.

So here's my list:

1. Spring and All by William Carlos Williams

I like how the coldness of death is portrayed in this poem and how the environment plays a part in setting the mood and characterizing 'Death', which is a universal theme. It's also interesting because spring usually symbolizes a new beginning/'Life'.

2. The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams

Because this poem is so vivid (and cute), i can ask students to draw a picture based on their intepretation of this poem, perhaps paying special attention to the use of colours.

3. The Snow Man by Wallace Stevens

Using this poem to teach about poetry as an experiential thing and to read between the lines ("Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is").

4. A Woman's Shortcomings by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Basically how woman/femininity is played up/stereotyped.

5. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Mainly used for questioning (eg. what was the road not taken? why did he take the road "less traveled by"?)

6. in time of daffodils by E.E. Cummings

Notion of time. Will it be different if other flowers or objects are used instead? How will it change the meaning/feeling of the poem?

7. Haiku (Never Published) by Allen Ginsberg

Can be used to teach beat poems and compare with traditional haiku. Can ask students to write their own haikus as a post-activity.

8. From a College Window by D.H. Lawrence

Perspective-taking and point of view. Since this poem is about a student's perspective, can get students to discuss their fears/feelings of this world compared to when they were younger. How their views may change as they get older?

9. Singapore River by Lee Tzu Pheng

This poem can be used to teach personification and i think it's good for weaker students or lower levels as the content is fairy easy to deal with.

10. Void Deck by Alfian Sa'at

A very singaporean living experience that most students are able to relate to. i previously taught this and explored space constraint (how HBD flats are getting smaller and how everyone is compartmentalized and identified by their unit number etc.) as a bigger theme of this poem. Might be a little controversial but then again, it depends on your teaching approach.

That's all folks!