“Truth”
by Barrie Wade
Name______________________
___
Sticks and stones may break my bones,
but words can also hurt me.
Stones and sticks break only skin,
while words are ghosts that haunt me.
Slant and curved the word-swords fall
to pierce and stick inside me.
Bats and bricks may ache through bones,
but words can mortify me.
Pain from words has left its scar
on mind and heart that’s tender.
Cuts and bruises now have healed;
it’s words that I remember.
This poem must be memorized and recited in class no later than
Friday, April 1, 2016.
*Practice reciting this poem at home every night in front of an audience or a mirror
(Hint-make flashcards of each line in the poem.)
*Memorize each line and try to remember clues to help you remember the order of the
lines.
*Once the poem is memorized, work on adding expression in your voice and using drama to
act out the poem as you recite it.
*You will be graded on how well you recite the poem from memory without the aide of
any cues from the teacher. Also you will be graded on the expression you use will
reciting the poem in class, and whether or not your COLORFUL illustration shows the
meaning of the poem. (DO NOT LEAVE ANY WHITE SHOWING IN YOUR PICTURE)
For Grading Rubric: Please see the back of this paper.
Please do not write in this space.
Helpies: ___________ Hand Motions: ___________ Props: ___________
Memorization:
Recitation:
Illustration:
/ 79
/ 24
/ 10
Total Score:
/113
Grade: ______________