3.7 Poetry EQ Connection Discussion Forum

Choose a poem that resonated or "spoke to you" and connect it to one of the following essential questions. You might want to create your writing somewhere else and save is so you have a safe copy. When you are ready to post, select the Reply option of the last post, create your written response, and don't forget to "Post to Forum!"

Are people often influenced by others?

Are people affected by choices they make?

Can a strong sense of determination help people to achieve life goals?

Is having courage an important life quality?

Do people feel the need to belong?

One of my favorite poems is "Johnnie's Poem," by Alden Nowlan.  I think a lot of courage was shown when Nowlan's son, Johnnie, wrote a poem that told of the frightening things he had experienced in his short life time.  He felt sad and frightened about his grandfather's death, and his father being in the hospital,  and this is what he wrote about in his poem.  He showed the courage to write about what he "felt deepest and hardest," as Nowlan's poem says.  I think good poetry comes directly from the heart, and I think it takes great courage for people to share their inner feelings with other people, and published poets share their hearts with an even larger audience.  This poem really resonated with me when I read it when I was in high school, and that is why I included it in this course!  I wanted to share this short and meaningful poem with all of you too.  I think it proves that good poetry doesn't necessarily take a lot of skill, but it does take courage!
Mrs. Dennis