Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Day 6 ~ Let's Write an "I Am" Poem

How to write an "I Am" poem ~

This "formula" form poem was one of my favorites to use as a teacher because it ended up giving me some interesting insight about my students. Some were very serious and tender, others were silly. For example ~ one boy wrote for the "I Am" line (which gets repeated over and over): "I am an honest young man who loves the Lord." (Yep, right there in school, then he went on to fill in the other lines with the type of person he tried to be ... because he was a young man who loved the Lord). However, another student wrote "I am a happy boy who loves pizza." The rest of the poem was hysterical. You can go anywhere, depending on WHO you say you ARE. Here's the form - YOU fill in the blanks BUT you must follow the instructions for each line!!

IF this feels TOO personal - make up a character or if you are writing a book, use one of your characters for this poem ~ the easiest way is to copy and paste the format onto a document page and then read the instructions and replace them with YOUR words:

Below is the line-by-line set-up for this version of the "I Am..." poem:

I Am…

1st Stanza

I am (two special characteristics you have)
I wonder (something you are actually curious about)
I hear (an imaginary sound)
I see (an imaginary sight)
I want (an actual desire)
I am (the first line of the poem is repeated)

Stanza 2

I pretend (something you really pretend to do)
I feel (a feeling about something imaginary)
I touch (something you imagine you touch)
I worry (a worry that is real to you)
I cry (something that makes you very sad)
I am (the first line of the poem is repeated)

Stanza 3

I understand (something you know is true)
I say (something you believe in)
I dream (a dream you actually have)
I try (something you make an effort to do)
I hope (something you really hope for)
I am (the first line of the poem is repeated)

OK, I'm such a paradox personality anyway - so I used two random traits but they both play powerful parts in my daily life so, at the risk of being more vulnerable than I care to be, here's my poem:

I Am…

I am compassionate and distracted.
I wonder if people realize the sincerity of my motives.
I hear opportunities passing.
I see endless possibilities
I want to fulfill my life’s mission. 
I am compassionate and distracted.

I pretend I’m not noticing everything all at once.
I feel like I am always “on the verge” of … something.
I touch the part of me that’s missing.
I worry I might leave this life with some of my “music left inside me.”
I cry when I think about those who may have misunderstood me.
I am compassionate and distracted.

I understand the Lord is aware of my intentions and talents.
I say my writings will make a difference.
I dream of helping others with my words.
I try to give people the benefit of the doubt.
I hope they will do the same for me.
I am compassionate and distracted.

      © Stephanie Abney 2011

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am awesome and confidant
I wonder what everyone thinks of me
I hear voices in my head . . .
I see bacon everywhere
I want to have a perfect life
I am awesome and confidant

I pretend I’m cool when I mess up
I feel worried . . . a lot
I touch the keyboard as a type
I worry about the future
I cry for everything bad in the world
I am awesome and confidant

I understand next to nothing in this world
I say things will get better
I dream they will
I try to make a difference and be good
I hope I will
I am awesome and confidant

Vicki said...

I am a mother in Zion and a singer
I wonder if I can get all my children back to Heavenly Father
I hear music all the time around me
I see me embracing my daughter in the eternities
I want to be reunited with all my lost loved ones
I am a mother in Zion and a singer

Stanza 2

I pretend I know what I'm doing
I feel that by doing so, I will know what I'm doing
I touch the lives of all those I know
I worry that I'm not enough
I cry when one of my children is in pain
I am a mother in Zion and a singer

Stanza 3

I understand why we need the Atonement
I say the Church is true
I dream that my courage will be rewarded
I try to teach others about the Gospel
I hope that others will know I love them
I am a mother in Zion and a singer

Stephanie Abney said...

These are both great!! Thanks for sharing them!!

Anonymous said...

I AM
I am determined and caring.
I wonder what Heaven is like.
I hear the needs and desires of my family and friends.
I see that I am not the person I used to be and still want to be.
I want to be able to serve and do as I was once able to do.
I am determined and caring.

I pretend that I am capable of receiving rather than giving.
I feel the pure love of Christ among my fellow brothers and sisters.
I touch the lives and hearts of others (hopefully) with my words, deeds, and actions.
I worry about not serving to the best of my abilities.
I cry when I have offended unintentionally others that I love.
I am determined and caring.

I understand the gospel is true.
I say “I know that my Redeemer lives”.
I dream of being an eternal family once again.
I try to let Kindness begin with me
I hope that I will always remember who I AM and who and what I represent.
I am determined and caring.
Mary L. Walling 4/2011

Stephanie Abney said...

Lovely, Mary!!