EWC4U
January 1,
2013
Catalogue Poetry Group Activity
In groups of three to four complete the following steps:
1. Create a list of human emotions from simple to complex. From that list choose three/four emotions and
write each on its own piece of paper.
2. Each member of the group gets one emotion and brainstorms specific words, feelings, events and ideas
that they associate with that emotion for one minute. Then you pass the paper onto the person to your
right and brainstorm the new emotion for one minute. Continue this until everyone has brainstormed for
each emotion.
3. Read the poem “Fear” by Raymond Carver at the end of these instructions. Discuss these questions as a
group:
a.
b.
c.
d.
What do you notice about the style and form of the poem?
What are you favourite lines in the poem and why?
Why do you think the poet listed these things in this particular order?
Does the poem have a particular rhythm or flow? Does this add to the meaning of the
poem?
e. When does the poet break from this rhythm and what effect does it have?
4. Choose one of the emotions & brainstorms. As a group edit and organize the brainstorm into a
catalogue poem like Carver’s poem. Concentrate on organization and word choice as this will help keep
the poem short and tight like Carver’s poem. Stick your group poem onto the back white board.
5. Now that you have practiced writing catalogue poems as a group you can attempt one individually.
Each member should brainstorm a list of their most prized, well-loved, or significant possessions. These
may be items they own now, or they may be possessions from their childhood.
6. Then choose two or three of these objects, the ones that have the most "history,” meaning, and stories
behind them. For each of these objects, do a quick freewrite of phrases and ideas that relate to the object
and its importance in their lives.
7. Read Carver’s poem “The Car,” a lengthy list of descriptive phrases that create a vivid picture of the
poet’s car, found at the end of these instructions. Think about the poem and “fill in the blanks,” by telling
the possible stories that the abbreviated writing in the list does not allow to be told. For example, imagine
the tale behind the lines “The car my daughter wrecked” or “The car that hit the dog and kept going.”
8. Start planning your own poem about a prized possession. Use your completed brainstorms for ideas
and the two Carver poems as inspiration.
9. Once you have planned your poem, write it then edit it using the “Object Catalogue Poem Checklist”
also at the end of the instructions.
10. You should bring your edited poem to class tomorrow.
EWC4U
Fear by Raymond Carver
Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive.
Fear of falling asleep at night.
Fear of not falling asleep.
Fear of the past rising up.
Fear of the present taking flight.
Fear of the telephone that rings in the dead of night.
Fear of electrical storms.
Fear of the cleaning woman who has a spot on her cheek!
Fear of dogs I've been told won't bite.
Fear of anxiety!
Fear of having to identify the body of a dead friend.
Fear of running out of money.
Fear of having too much, though people will not believe this.
Fear of psychological profiles.
Fear of being late and fear of arriving before anyone else.
Fear of my children's handwriting on envelopes.
Fear they'll die before I do, and I'll feel guilty.
Fear of having to live with my mother in her old age, and mine.
Fear of confusion.
Fear this day will end on an unhappy note.
Fear of waking up to find you gone.
Fear of not loving and fear of not loving enough.
Fear that what I love will prove lethal to those I love.
Fear of death.
Fear of living too long.
Fear of death.
I've said that.
January 1,
2013
EWC4U
January 1,
2013
THE CAR
Raymond Carver
The car with a cracked windshield.
The car that leaked carbon monoxide.
The car that threw a rod.
The car with the sticky carburetor.
The car without brakes.
The car that hit the dog and kept going.
The car with a faulty U-joint.
The car with the hole in its muffler.
The car with a hole in its radiator.
The car my daughter wrecked.
The car I picked peaches for.
The car with the twice-rebuilt engine.
The car with a cracked block.
The car with the corroded battery cables.
The car with no reverse gear.
The car bought with a bad check.
The car I traded for a bicycle.
Car of my sleepless nights.
The car with steering problems.
The car with a stuck thermostat.
The car with generator trouble.
The car whose engine caught fire.
The car with no back seat.
The car with no headlights.
The car with the torn front seat.
The car with a broken fan belt.
The car that burned oil.
The car with wipers that wouldn’t work.
The car with the rotten hoses.
The car I gave away.
The car that left the restaurant without paying.
The car with transmission trouble.
The car with bald tires.
The car I washed my hands of.
The car with no heater or defroster.
The car I struck with a hammer.
The car with its front end out of alignment.
The car with payments that couldn’t be met.
The car the child threw up in.
The repossessed car.
The car I threw up in.
The car whose clutch-pin broke.
The car with the broken water pump.
The car waiting on the back lot.
The car whose timing gear was shot.
Car of my dreams.
The car with the blown head-gasket.
My car.
The car I left on the side of the road.
Object Catalog Poem Checklist
Be sure that:







your poem offers 12-25 lines that highlight the object and its significance.
each line begins in the same way, until you reach the ending.
each line is vivid and descriptive, presenting one clear image.
each word is chosen carefully and means precisely what you intend it to mean.
the ending offers a sort of “twist” that expresses the ultimate essence of the poem.
there is an overall rhythm to the poem that allows it to flow when read aloud.
the title of the poem is the object which is its subject. the final draft is carefully proofread with all
errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics corrected.