Begin by reviewing the poem below. This is your mentor text, your guide for writing your own Identity poem. Identity by Julio Noboa Polanco Let them be as flowers, always watered, fed, guarded, and admired, but harnessed to a pot of dirt. I’d rather be a tall, ugly weed, clinging on cliffs, like an eagle wind-wavering above high, jagged rocks. To have broken through the surface of stone, to live, to feel exposed to the madness of the vast, eternal sky. To be swayed by the breezes of an ancient sea, carrying my soul, my seed, beyond the mountains of time or into the abyss of the bizarre. I’d rather be unseen, and if then shunned by everyone, than to be a pleasant-smelling flower, growing in clusters in the fertile valley, where they’re praised, handled, and plucked by greedy, human hands. I’d rather smell of musty, green stench than of sweet, fragrant lilac. If I could stand alone, strong and free, I’d rather be a tall, ugly weed. Now it’s your turn! To write your own Identity poem in the style of Julio Noboa Polanco, consider the following: If I were a plant or animal, I’d be a/an _____, but not a/an _____ If I were a piece of furniture, I’d be a/an ______, but not a/an ______ If I were a color, I’d be _____ but not ______ If I were a vehicle, I’d be a(n) _____, but not _______ If I were a piece of clothing, I’d be a(n) _____, but not _______ Or anything else you would compare. Now choose one for the topic of your own Identity poem. Remember, just like in Polanco’s poem, you’re comparing two things in this extended metaphor and showing why you prefer one to the other. Go on to the next page. Here’s a template based on Polanco’s work. You can fill in the blanks with whatever makes sense for the two items you’re comparing. Use the Identity poem above to help you. Identity by ______________ (your name) _ Let them be as _______________ always ___________ but______________________ . I’d rather be a _________ , ________, like a/an _______, ________. To have _____________ to _______________. To be _____________________________, or _______________ . I’d rather be ____________________________, and if then ____________ , than to be ________________ ,where ______________ by ___________. I’d rather _______________________________than ___________. If I could ________, I’d rather be a ____________________________. Now, let’s digitize it. Type your poem into a PowerPoint presentation. Provide a title slide (capitalize the name of the poem) and a slide at the end with your image sources (and music source, if you used music). You can also include your name as the narrator. Add relevant images. Convert your PowerPoint to a video by record yourself reading your poem aloud. Take your time and speak clearly. When you finish, upload your video presentation. Have fun with this creative project. Here’s your rubric. Focus and Content (35 points) The poem was on topic. The poem compared two things in the style of the mentor poem. It was clear which of the two things the poet would be. Presentation (15 points) The presentation included relevant images. The student spoke clearly. The poem had no spelling errors. The personal pronoun I was capitalized. All sources are provided on the final slide. There was a title slide and the poem title was capitalized.
