The teens in Poetic License represent the most recent point on a long historical oral poetic continuum. These young writers are following in the footsteps of the verbal battles of ancient Greece, the Griots of West Africa, the Haiku poetry of Japan, the limericks of Ireland, the storytelling traditions of Native Americans, and the free-flowing verse of the Beat Generation, to name just a few. This section will explore some of these influences as well as introduce students to the elements of sound in poetry. Slam poetry, which encourages audience participation, is only the most recent form of that dialogue. Students should copy this list into their notebooks.
Students then circle the form that they most relate to.
Students write down 5 to 10 phrases that describe that musical form. They then use those phrases to construct a poem. Students research one of the international forms of the oral tradition, and then write a poem mimicking that style. Community Voice Many writers find the material and inspiration for their work in their communities. The environment informs their voice, prompting them to observe and chronicle life around them.