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©Andreas Lund's |
Combine Your Grammar and Poetry Skills
Hundreds of poems:
Poems received in 2001
Poems received in
2000
Poems
received in 1999.
Poems received in 1998 and
earlier.
Note: Only poems observing the grammatical categories will be published.
Write a 5-line poem in the following constructivist manner:
- On the first line write a noun of your choice
- On the second line write two adjectives joined by and to describe this noun
- On the third line write a verb and an adverb to describe this noun in action
- Start the fourth line with like or as followed by a comparison
- Start the final line with if only followed by a wish
Below is an example of such a poem (written by the Norwegian pupil Sven Grüner):
Politician
phoney and
false
lying desperately
like a mocking bird
if only I had the key to
the bird cage
Now it's your turn. Use the white space below to write a 5-line poem of your choice. Whenever you need to, you can call up a search form for Merriam-Webster OnLine (with sound!) to help you look into and/or experiment with synonyms to the words you first chose (opens in separate window). Make changes and decide which version works best. This is great to discuss and actually sculpt your language. Note that you can also copy (parts of) the text you find in the Theasaurus.
The finished poem can be passed on or published in many ways:
- mark the poem (use left mouse key, press down and drag your pointer across the text)
- use the edit option or Ctrl-C to copy your poem to the clipboard
- start a word processor or Notepad and paste your poem into it (Ctrl-V)
- or open your browser's mail option (if present), copy the poem and mail it to someone
- why not mail the poem to me anlun@online.no
Good poems will be published on this website for all the visitors to read!
It is also possible (and fun) to do this exercise in a very low-tech way: Decide on a theme for the noun in the first line. Then let the pupils suggest the subsequent lines, write everything on the blackboard. Make sure you go over the lines again to open up for synonyms, creative imagery and unexpected twists. The next versions will be so much better than first one.
Poems received:
The following poems are published chronologically as I receive them.Class contributions are placed in "boxes" at the bottom of the page.
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Ghosts scary and strange floating silently as morning fog if only I was one too. by Mads Olavsbråten (walking_zombi70@hotmail.com) bird red and sick flying high like a plane if only hogs could fly by Espen Herbert (budoboy1@hotmail.com) blood red and warm controlling willingly like a polluted river into the sea if only I could go back in time by Jesper Scerri (jesperd@maltanet.net) He kind and gentle always patient as he got the time of the world if only I could have him here beside me by Pranvera Sefaja (pranveras@kujtesa.com) Love beautiful and painful waiting anxiously like a flower to grow if only I could tell you my feelings by M⮡ªnµ~k ±î®åÐÕ (odarit59@hotmail.com) Students responsible and intelligent working happily like an army of ants if only I had the posibility to know all that wait for me to study by Judith Keibel (j_keibel@hotmail.com) Easter sun Yellow and warm Shining brightly like the moon on a cold winter day If only this weather could stay by Bente Amsrud Moen (b-a-moen@frisurf.no) Child Innocent and loving Always bringing peace and hope to the world Like a good guardian angel If only adults could have this spirit... to make a different world. by Marisol Gandara (MARISUN_8@hotmail.com) Teacher Honest and respectful Working hard Like an ant If only people could be like that by Gerardo Peña cake sinful and sweet taunting mercilessly like a blind fellow at a silent movie if only I hated cake by Kristina (KRISSI6363@aol.com) Volcanoes Dangerous and magnificent Throwing up violently like a sick man If only we could prevent it from puking by Vivian Tan (vivian1005sg@yahoo.com.sg) Friends fun and loving always exciting like a child at play if only we need never part by Alison Toh (alisontoh@hotmail.com) Mother warm and loving encouraging consistently like a friend to me if only she will always be there for me by elaine ng (el_ng@hotmail.com) Sardines trapped and cramped trying to get out desperately like a bird in a cage if only I have the opener to set them free by DuN KNñôW (aini_aini07@hotmail.com) Friend Kind and helpful always wearing a cheerful smile Like a clown making people happy if only it can last forever by ang shuzhen (shuzhen17@hotmail.com) motorbike small and fast dangerously driving like wrestling if only there was enough gasoline by Carl Christian Ellingsen (kjell.ellingsen@c2i.net) Boyfriend devoted and affectionate sleeping soundly like a baby in a cradle if only i could sleep by his side by Ida Cecilie Fossum, 2IKA @ Tinus Olsens Skole (glamtouch@hotmail.com) Corn Starchy and sweet Growing alone Like a bird in a cage If only you could see the corn in me by Katrine Hoff (katrine@hoff.as) Love Short and strong thinking deeply like a forgotten thought in only i knew what is love? by carolina_cavazos@hotmail.com Art Creative and unique Considered an amazing gift Like an expensive design If only i had the opportunity to express my feelings in art by Paulina Palacio Ruiz (paupi_13@hotmail.com) Flower Colorful and pretty blossom quickly As a rainbow rises in the sky If only I could be like it. by moru garcia (ckb77@hotmail.com) Rain sterling and moist falling somberly like funeral drops if only time to wish by P. Scanlon (irish2@peoplepc.com) hypocrite annoying and ignorant babbling uncontrollably like a brook to its tributaries if only I could harness the power of the desert sun by Anthony Pelliccio (antp56@netscape.net) this is a constructivist poem about a volcano in my country (Mexico) Popocatepetl Wonderful and majestic sleeping silently like a fire god waiting to get up if only it can sleep forever. by Omar Montoya (omar_montoya@hotmail.com) Pain agonizing and tormenting throbbing uncontrollably like a siren If only I had access to the off button by by Sandra A. (jadlouni@kings.k12.ca.us) School boring and tiresome. Going on endlessly, Like the day going on If only it would stop!
Love
Church
Love interesting and cool teaching informally as a modern popular theatre if only I'm permitted to leave after antract. by Diddle@mail.ru Friends sharing and caring everlasting joy like a sunflowers part if only their was more for me!! by K.S.Q.P God Wonderful and Supreme Amazing Trinity Like nothing I could be If only I learn everything about Him by Tracy Drouin (friendsatic@hotmail.com) My friend Stupid and confused Trying despeerately Like a clumsey mountain goat If only he could climb his mountain by Adam Sizemore (adamls22@yahoo.com) Love happy and joy living together like a smiling baby if only I had the key to the heaven by sun-ju Kim (sunjukim@hotmail.com) love sweet and hard aching desperately like a hungry bear if only I could know love's mind by Sungeun Lee (happysungeun@hotmail.com) Love sweet and bitter goes together like a string and needle if only I enjoy the sweet one by Eun Kyunghee (athene95@hotmail.com) rose sweet and soft opening carefully like a shy girl if only the scent flew to me by kwak cheonok (dreams4jayou@hotmail.com) |
Headache Painful and Pounding sneaking up calmly Like there's a nucLear war inside my head If only it could leave me ....... alone by Mari Haugen (h_mari@hotmail.com) Rain sterling and moist falling somberly like funeral drops if only time to wish by Patrick Scanlon (irish2@peoplepc.com) Summer Warm and sunny Relaxing calm Like a trip to abroad If only the summer could last all year by siri jensen (sirihj@email.com) Flower enchanting and fragant scenting joyfully the air like a woman attracting a man with her arome if only I could live in heaven. by Guille Suro (sguille_sv@hotmail.com) Gum tasty and funny chew it rapidly like Sir Alex Ferguson If only I had some money by Asle André Orseth (a_orseth@rosenborg.zzn.com) Swimming Fun and wet Moving in flowing water Like a little fish If only I could swim forever by Jon G. Granli (ggranli@hotmail.com) Smoke Smelly and unhealthy Killing people slowly Like a bomb If only the smoke could be forbidden. by Torstein Soevik (tsoevik@hotmail.com) Spring light and warm emerging softly like a gentle breeze if only I could capture it. by Bob Huber (bobhuber44131@yahoo.com) Artists Full and Pompous Wanting desperately As a wallflower with big dreams If only they would be honest by Ex3v17@aol.com Kitty Cat Loving and Affectionate Sleeping Soundly like a lizard on a hot rock If only he weren't compressing my lungs! by Robin Sherwin (wildnurseq@yahoo.com) Horse fast and furious roaming freely like hurricane if only I could roam all the time by aaa bbb (lavent16@hotmail.com) Homework Sickening and troublesome Piling up daily Like building up to Everest If only it would disappear! by elaine ng (el_ng@hotmail.com) Music soft and smooth floating around like wind moving in the air if only i can hold it. by Po On (po_on85@hotmail.com) Turtle Scaly and large Bathing sleepily Like a lilypad If only I had a shell to hide under < FONT color=#ff0000>by Grace Flecha (gflecha@donerus.com) Mountains awesome and high floating silently like a dream if only I had been on one by Tessa (tessjtspears@yahoo.ca) Jesus sinless and almighty dying powerfully as creator resurrected if only you would trust him now by aed@dunawaytech.com love lost and desperate yells alone in the sea yearningly as a lonely breaking wave if only I find my comfort in you again.. by nakimushiSJ@hotmail.com Scream loud and cold demanding strongly like a thunder in the sky If only I could stop it now by Adriana Villegas (advicu@hotmail.com) Angels Pure and kind Flying softly Like the purest thing I want to be an Angel by mayito_jedi@hotmail.com butterfly soft and fragile Flying gently Like a delicate flower If I only could have one by naomi (naomis86@hotmail.com) Flu Sniffling and sneezing Infecting slowly like a peaceful river if only it could run dry.
Rainy Days! red and shiny respectable running as fast as a dream if only I could feel eat now. by Juan Pablo Elizundia (TEC) (jp_elizundia@hotmail.com) Spirit unreal and mysterious exists internally in the objects like the essence of the life if only I could discover you... by Alejandra Sánchez Quiles (aalesanq@hotmail.com) Horses beautiful and graceful nickering softly like a cat purring if only they could sleep in my bed by Michelle Welcher (mwelcher@msn.com) cars fast and furious cruising rapidly like Michael Jonhson if only I had a garage by Carlos Campero (ccampero6@hotmail.com) love honest and delightful always unexpecting like a fairy tale if only it would happen to me by Leah (american_babe1014@alloymail.com) politician friend or foe lying constantly like the devil if only they'd shut up by bj.short@earthlink.net Love hopeful and confusing caring continually like an endless chain if only it could last
Rain
Dream Supportive and loving There for you constantly Like guardian angels If only all of them were, forever. by Rachiel Foulks (blazer_babe_12@yahoo.com) Pigs dirty and fat rolling joyfully like a ball if only they could talk by bj.short@earthlink.net guys loving and annoying trying desperatly like a freak if only they would go away by melanie foreman (babygirl006900@hotmail.com) Women Loving and confusing Begging desperately Like a dog If only they could learn
Teachers fast and sleek speeding carefully like a bullet If only I had the keys by bj.short@earthlink.net life wonderful and fantastic breathing deeply like a cool breeze if only I had more days to live by comstock@dreamwiz.com politician smart and phony address strongly speak like trader if only I had power to punish them by popup44@yahoo.co.kr |
| From Neil Mc Carthy's class of young learners in Oslo, October 22, 2002 | |
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Mouse small and cute running fast like a racing car if only they could be blue!! by Hanne Frogner Rabbit Sweet and kind Jumping high Like the best animal in the world If only I only could have one....
Hamster
Spiders by Birgitte Haavardsholm & Cathrine Delp Hamsterlittle and sweet. Running fast. Like Tim Montgomery!! If only she was mine!! by Trine Gedde Dolphin smooth and wet swimming fast like me if only she was mine by Isabelle Myrvold Dog, Peaceful and sweet, Playing joyfully, Like fireworks when it explodes, If only I could be a dog I could talk to him. by Hilde Jarbo |
Dog Honest and respectful Working hard like a horse. If only I could get one....... by Anders Lien Cat cute and small playing quietly like a mouse if only she had a voice by Katrine Larsåsen Dog Cute and cuddly Playfully playing like a kid If only they could talk! by Mari Gallagher Rabbit! Grey and brown, jumping fast, like a frog, if only she could talk, I would love her by Nora Nesje Dog cosy and trusting playing carefully like a teddybear if only I had one by Britt-Susanne Christensen Cat (*dead*) Smart and calm Living happily Like a happy cat should be If only it saw the car... by Nicholas Morsman |
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Received Dec 29, 2002: Hello, My name is Sílvia and I'm a young English teacher from Portugal. I've recently come across your site, and I've found it really interesting. One of the problems I have here is how to motivate students to learn English, so I thought about asking my young students to write something that could be published in your site along with other students work. The theme we've choosen was computers and here are the results. best wishes Sílvia | |
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Computer Sensitive and soft It sounds magically Like a woman If only I could understand them… By Ricardo Gil and Bruno Dias
Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
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Computer Slow and dumb It influences with its games Like a dog If only I could smoke it By Ricardo Pais and Pedro Pereira
Computer
Computer
My Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
Computer
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Updated: Dec 31, 2002
since Dec 13
1995.