Life Poetry
Read the following and create your own “Life Poem” on a separate CLEAN sheet of paper. Your poem will
consist of 6 stanzas with approximately 5 lines each. Use your best handwriting when you turn in your final
draft.
Today we're going to learn to write poetry that celebrates your life. You are alive today; that makes you a
survivor! During times of struggle, whether it be personal problems or perhaps a national attack, you can
remember that you are a survivor. You are worth celebrating.
I call this poetry, “Life Poetry.” It is also called “catalog or list poetry.” It's easy to write. There is no rhyme or
rhythm involved unless you want to use them! The only rule for “Life Poetry” is that you are honest.
To begin, get a clean sheet of paper. You are going to be making short lists under six headings. After you
have completed the lists, I'll explain how to turn them into a life poem.
Think of the room in your home where you spend most of your time. List four to six nouns that relate to that
room, without naming the room! You can include verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. For example, if I were to
make a list for my kitchen, I might write this: sink cluttered with dishes, the aroma of peach butter, corn flakes
scattered everywhere, fluffy cat looking for a treat, child proudly making a sandwich. Those things are not
always there, but they represent that room of my house! Notice that I didn't write complete sentences in my list.
Make your first list. Be creative!
The focus of the next heading is a little larger. While the first list was about a room, this heading covers your
home and yard or play area, the places where you primarily live. Think not only about objects in these places,
but also activities and emotions that are common there. Are there any sounds or smells that are familiar to your
home and play area? Choose around six thoughts for your list.
The third list is about your community and state. By community I mean the country, small town, or big city
where you live, local places you have visited, and things like that. Are there any attractions where you live? For
instance, if you live in Cincinnati, Ohio, you could include King's Island in your list. This list should include
things with which you are familiar; you shouldn't have to research your community. Then move on to your
state, which may require research. Without naming your state, list clues that a person could use to guess your
home state. What makes your state different from other states? What makes it special?
The fourth list is about our country. Without writing the words “America” or “USA,” write down some of our
most famous landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty and the Liberty Bell, and your feelings about our country
and its people. Think about how we help each other during times of crisis. Remember the courage of our police
officers, our firefighters, our military, and even our ordinary citizens who risk their lives to protect us and keep
us safe!
Now we'll switch gears and focus on your heritage. Think about your ancestors as well as your living
relatives. Did they come from other lands? What types of work have they done? Don't list them all, but choose
the ones that stand out in your mind. How do you feel about your heritage? This list will show others the path
that leads to you.
Your last list will be about your vision for the future, not only your future, but your family's future, and also
your country's future. Are you optimistic about the future? Are you pessimistic? Do you have hopes and
dreams? List all of that here. This list may include some things you enjoy now, such as music, food, sports,
and so on. Again, you don't need complete sentences.
Now we'll take these lists and shape them into poetry. The hard part is over. Have fun with your life poem!
Each list will become a separate stanza. Your first stanza is about a room. On a clean sheet of paper, write
“My Life Poem” across the top with your name underneath. Then skip a line and write “I am from,” followed by
items from your list. Dress them up if necessary. Ends with the words “I am from home,” and briefly describe
your feelings about it. Here is an example of the first stanza, written by a friend of mine. Can you guess which
room she is describing?
My Life Poem
by Katie Foth
I am from cotton steaming hot beneath an iron,
From soapsuds and aprons stuffed with Aunt Esther's letters,
From fragrant loaves cooling on the brown bread board
And warm apple pies and fresh blueberry muffins.
I am from home—tidy and cheery, ringing oft with hearty laughs.
Your second stanza should follow the same pattern as the first, beginning with the words, “I am from,” and
listing thoughts about your home and play area. Each line should begin with the word “From” or “And.”
Follow that with stanzas for your community and state, and for your country–still beginning each stanza with
the words, “I am from.”
Your fifth stanza will reveal your heritage. Don't worry about making it seem good. While most of us have
someone in our lineage that makes us proud, most people also have a “black sheep” in their family–one or
more relatives or ancestors whose character and behavior was less than ideal. You aren't required to include
them in your poem, but you needn't feel embarrassed about them, either. After all, you are a survivor!
Whomever you choose to include, feel free to use adjectives. Katie Foth wrote this about her heritage:
I am from stern stuff; my core is pure steel,
From stocky Scotch Irish and sturdy Norwegians,
From tall Kaiser blackguard and devout German preacher,
From resourceful mechanic to strict Lutheran teacher,
Electronic technician to plain lumberjack.
Your final stanza will be your vision for the future. You will once again begin this stanza with, “I am from.”
The last line will present a specific thought about the future as you imagine it.
After you finish this rough draft of your life poem, read through it and mark any changes, additions, or
deletions you need to make. Rewrite, shape, and polish your poem. Read it aloud to see how it sounds. It
should flow smoothly from one idea to the next.
Would you like an idea for an inexpensive gift? You might try writing personal life poems for friends or family
members. Now that you know the format for life poetry, you can interview individuals and create a personal life
poem for them! Write it in your best handwriting or type it on good quality paper. Roll it up and tie it with a
ribbon, or put it in a frame. They'll love it!
To summarize the lesson, here is the format that our life poetry follows:
Stanza 1 – the room in which you spend the most time
Stanza 2 – Your house and yard
Stanza 3 – Your community or state
Stanza 4 – Your relatives or ancestors (heritage)
Stanza 5– your country
Stanza 6 – Your vision for the future