Concrete Abstracts
Emotions are a common experiences. However, it can be hard to describe an emotion because
emotions are abstract.
A CONCRETE ABSTRACT poem describes an ABSTRACT noun, usually an emotion or feeling, using
CONCRETE images.
YOU WILL WRITE A CONCRETE ABSTRACT POEM
IN 2 LEVELS.
1ST LEVEL:
1. Choose an emotion or abstract noun you are familiar with.
2. If it had a color, what would that color be?
3. If your abstract noun had a …
a. tastes, what would it taste like?
b. smell, what would it smell like?
c. sound, what would it sound like?
d. texture, what would it feel like to touch or be touched by it?
FEAR
Fear is black.
it smells of sauerkraut
And tastes like sardines.
It sounds like silence
And feels slimy like anchovies
Theresa DuBois
BOREDOM
Boredom has no color.
It is invisible.
Boredom smells like dust centuries old.
It tastes like garlic salt
And it has no sound.
Boredom feels like numbness.
Mike Kapp
2ND LEVEL
Begin with a revised 1st Level Concrete Abstract Poem.
Develop each sensory line into a detailed, 3 + line stanza.
Each stanza must be AT LEAST 3 lines long.
When completed the poem will consist of:
a title (the topic)
5 stanzas (each a triplet or longer); one stanza for each of the 5 senses: sight, sound,
smell, feel, taste.
The final draft should incorporate imagery, precise word choice, sound devices
(assonance, alliteration, consonance) & rhythm.
Example “Tired” attached
CONCRETE ABSTRACT
2 PART ASSIGNMENT
PART I. – TWO 1ST LEVEL CONCRETE ABSTRACT POEMS
1. COMPOSE TWO OR MORE 1ST LEVEL CONCRETE ABSTRACTS ON
DIFFERENT TOPICS.
2. REVISE YOUR TWO BEST FOR A PEER REVIEW.
3. SUBMIT TWO REVISED, 1ST LEVEL POEMS AT THE END OF CLASS ON
FRIDAY, MAY 8TH.
4. EACH 1ST LEVEL FINAL DRAFT MUST BE TYPED OR NEATLY PRINTED
ON ITS OWN, CLEAN SHEET OF PAPER.
5. YOUR ROUGH DRAFTS WILL BE SUBMITTED SEPARATELY.
PART II. – ONE 2ND LEVEL CONCRETE ABSTRACT POEM
6. DEVELOP ONE OF YOUR 1ST LEVEL CONCRETE/ABSTRACT POEMS
TO A 2ND LEVEL CONCRETE/ABSTRACT POEM.
7. REVISE FOR WORD CHOICE, POETIC SOUND DEVICES, IMAGERY &
RHYTHM.
8. SUBMIT THE 2ND LEVEL CONCRETE ABSTRACT POEM IN A FINAL
DRAFT WITH THE ORIGINAL 1ST LEVEL SUBMISSION ATTACHED BY
MAY ___
FINAL DRAFTS MUST BE TYPED OR NEATLY PRINTED ON ITS
OWN, CLEAN SHEET OF PAPER. The original 1st level submission
must be attached.
Tired
Tired is a mixture of passing colors
as your eyes close and that beautiful beach
beckons you to keep it company
Tired has the sound of snickering students
listening to the slight snore of Billy taking a nap
while the teacher lectures on and on…and on
Tired smells like the
sweet
soft
silent
aroma of a pillow
waiting for your head
to deflate it
It has that awkward taste of saliva
as you yawn continuously
staring at the clock
waiting for those loud brrrrings, signaling the end
of this boring class
Tired takes you down into its deep abyss,
giving the feeling of not being able to do anything
that feeling of defeat, of destruction, of disappointment
After this thing,
this immensely powerful thing
sees that your body is limp and you just can’t take it anymore
it lets you drift slowly
back to the surface
by Sarah Black (2008-09)
ROUGH DRAFT FOR A 1st LEVEL CONCRETE ABSTRACT POEM
.
______________________ is _________________________
Abstract noun
A color
It sounds like ______________________________________________________________
It smells like _______________________________________________________________
And tastes like ______________________________________________________________
__________________ feels like _______________________________________________
Abstract noun
ROUGH DRAFT FOR A 1ST LEVEL CONCRETE ABSTRACT POEM
_______________________ is _________________________
Abstract noun
A color
It sounds like ______________________________________________________________
It smells like _______________________________________________________________
And tastes like ______________________________________________________________
__________________ feels like ____________________________________________
Abstract noun