To Satch
By Samuel Allen
Sometimes I feel like I will never stop
Just go on forever
Til one fine mornin’
I’m gonna’ reach up and grab me a handfulla stars
Swing out my long lean leg
And whip three hot strikes burnin’ down the heavens
And look over at God and say
How about that!
Form
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This is a one stanza poem with eight lines.
How many syllables are in the first line?
The second line?
The third?
Is there a pattern to this meter?
Is there any end rhyme in this poem?
So this poem is _____________________ .
Sometimes I feel like I will never stop
Just go on forever
Til one fine mornin’
I’m gonna’ reach up and grab me a handfulla stars
Swing out my long lean leg
And whip three hot strikes burnin’ down the heavens
And look over at God and say
How about that!
Meaning…
• What is the major image in this poem?
• Where is this person? What has happened to
him?
• What type of person was he?
• What was his personality like?
• How can you tell he’s like that?
Sometimes I feel like I will never stop
Just go on forever
Til one fine mornin’
I’m gonna’ reach up and grab me a handfulla stars
Swing out my long lean leg
And whip three hot strikes burnin’ down the heavens
And look over at God and say
How about that!
Diction
• Diction is an author’s choice of words
• When we discuss diction we can’t just say “This
poem has diction” like we say “This poem has
alliteration”
• Of course it “has diction.” Diction just means
words.
• We must charcaterize the diction.
• “This poem uses formal diction.”
• “This poem uses casual diction and slang.”
What are some other types of diction?
• A writer’s diction might be harsh and angry
sounding, using negative and unpleasant words.
• A writer might use soft sounding words with
many s’s and other soothing sounds.
• A poet could use demanding diction .
How would you characterize the
diction in “To Satch”?
Sometimes I feel like I will never stop
Just go on forever
Til one fine mornin’
I’m gonna’ reach up and grab me a handfulla stars
Swing out my long lean leg
And whip three hot strikes burnin’ down the heavens
And look over and God and say
How about that!
So who was Satch?
• Satch was a real life baseball player who played
on all-black teams in the 1920’s and 1930’s.
• In 1948 he made his Major League debut with
the Cleveland Indians
• H e was 42 then… that’s old for a baseball
player.
• His full name was Leroy (Satchell) Paige
• He was famous for his assortment of curveballs
and his great personality.
Where
did his
nickname
come
from?
What other devices are in the poem?
• Lots of Assonance
Sometimes I feel like I will never stop
Just go on forever
Til one fine mornin’
I’m gonna’ reach up and grab me a handfulla stars
Swing out my long lean leg
And whip three hot strikes burnin’ down the
heavens
And look over at God and say
How about that!
There is also alliteration
Sometimes I feel like I will never stop
Just go on forever
Til one fine mornin’
I’m gonna’ reach up and grab me a handfulla stars
Swing out my long lean leg
And whip three hot strikes burnin’ down the
heavens
And look over at God and say
How about that!