Students will discuss, then teacher should show an overhead or poster board of what famous authors have said about poetry. Students will be reading a poem to the class after they have practiced with a partner. Partners should guide each other with positive feedback and helpful suggestions. Students will write down any thoughts they have on the poems' messages. In a group of 3-4 students, choose two readers to read the poems aloud.
Students read the poem again to themselves and make further notes about the messages of the poems.
Also, in this reading they should make notes about the character in each poem. Students should discuss their answers in the group. Then bring the class back together and let a reporter from each group give some examples of what the members have written about these two poems. Encourage questions and discussion of the poems. Teacher should be sure students decide on the tone of both poems.