“Older & Wiser” Recovery Poem
Oftentimes story characters, like people in real life, change and grow in wisdom as a result of their life experiences. In this activity, you will write a free verse poem in which you explore how a character in your book has changed during their recovery process from addiction.
Complete the chart below to show how a character in your story has grown. Record what the character was like at the beginning of the story under the category “When I Was Younger,” and record the changes that occurred in the character during or at the end of the story under “Now That I’m Older.” Your poem should have at least 5 examples for each of the two categories.
You will need to create two illustrations that represent your character before and after their new wisdom, growth, or maturity.
Remember that the goal of this “Older & Wiser” Poem is to explore the growth that a character has gained as a result of their addiction. Be sure to be clear that your poem reflects a strong indication of growth and recovery.
Remember to also prepare your oral presentation. Practice a clear, loud voice, good eye contact with your audience, and proper pacing
(not too fast, not too slow, remember to pause and breathe and smile!)
When I Was Younger Now That I’m Older

“Older & Wiser” Rubric
Category
Examples used in poem
Rhythm
Mechanics
(grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation)
Illustration
Oral
Presentation
Superior-4
Unique and insightful; careful and purposeful thought is highly evident
Word choice Uses carefully chosen and placed words; dynamic language
Pace and tempo of the poem are patterned, pleasing and lyrical when read aloud
Almost no mechanical errors
Detailed, neat and colorfuleffort is evident
Exceptionalspoke clearly, excellent volume, consistent eye contact, proper pacing
Pace and tempo of the poem are smooth and agreeable when read aloud
A few mechanical errors, but they are not distracting
Neat and colorfuleffort is evident
Proficient-3 Part.Proficient-2 Unsatisfactory-1
Clever and significant; careful and purposeful thought is evident
Uses varied word choice; excellent language
Good and appropriate; careful and purposeful thought is somewhat evident
Used appropriate but common word choice; adequate language
Pace and tempo of the poem are adequate, but not necessarily smooth when read aloud.
Poor or incomplete; careful and purposeful thought is not evident
Uses awkward, repetitive, or tedious word choice;
Ineffective language
Pace and tempo of the poem are choppy and awkward
Well preparedclear voice, good volume, eye contact, pacing.
Several mechanical errors which are slightly distracting
Fairly neat and colorful, but lacking details, effort is somewhat evident
Organized, but could improved volume, eye contact, and pacing,
Numerous mechanical errors which are highly distracting
Sloppy or not colored. Effort is clearly lacking.
Disorganizedpoor volume, little eye contact, inappropriate pacing.

Sample “Older & Wiser” Poem
When I was younger,
I didn’t know how much I could hate asparagus and grapes and potatos and peaches.
I watched my Abuelita crochet her worries away and didn’t understand why.
I waved kisses to my Papi when he sang Las Mananitas beneath my window.
I was called La Reina by a boy I thought I couldn’t love.
I inched like a caterpillar on the ground, listening to the earth’s heartbeat with the warm sun on my cheek.
When I was younger, I believed that I would be forever protected by my family’s circle of prosperity.
Now that I’m older,
I have hands made raw, parched, cracked, and peeling by unkind dust storms and wicked potato skins.
I find comfort in following my grandmother’s tradition of weaving yarn and memories.
I know my father’s heart lives in the delicate roses bursting from the soil outside my window.
I am called La Reina by a boy I think I love.
I still listen to the earth’s heartbeat—shoomp, shoomp, shoomp.
Now that I’m older, I believe that love, warmth, hope, and faith are the only protectors I need.
“Older & Wiser” Poem about Esperanza, from Esperanza Rising, by Pam
Munoz Ryan