Reflection "I Poetry" Books

I have just finished reading the books I Am the Mummy, Sierra, Atlantic, and Dirty Laundy Pile and find myself unable to articulate how the richness of the language moved me. I noticed many common features: the author's voice (as the object, person, place), the figurative language, carefully crafted themes, and the research which each author compiled before writing.

The poetry I have always read is based on subject matter from the writer's perspective. Most of the writings are based upon a profound experience which the reader may/may not be able to understand. The voice is more formal and sometimes distant. The vocabulary may be elevated and hard for young audiences to comprehend.

These poems, in contrast, are beautifully written from the perspective of the subject. This is such a creative approach. These "mask poems" or "I Poems" educate the reader; I've never experienced poetry in this manner. For example, the I Am Mummy allows the reader to share the pain, conflicts, and the history of the protagonist Heb-Nefert. This would be an excellent way to introduce Egyptian culture and lifstyles in seventh grade Social Studies for example. Students would be able to connect the poetry to actual people.

Three of these selections have a "hidden message" for the reader. However, it's not done in a "preachy format." The reader feels an empathy for the Sierra Mt. For example, when the author states MAN is the one who will determine what its future course will be. The Atlantic book educates the reader based on facts. In addition, it reminds the reader not to forget about its existence. I Am Mummy is my personal favorite; oftertimes, we forget that (like Heb-Nefert) none of us are invincible whether we are rich or poor.

For elementary chidren, Dirty Laundry Pile inspires children to write from a creative approach. What does a crayon say when plucked from the box? What a great way to teach point-of-view! My definition of an "I Poem" would be placing yourself in a position of an animate or inanimate object and writing from that perspective. More importantly, the writer may conduct prior research on the topic for it to have a more "authentic feel."