introducing Poetry

 Introducing Poetry in Grade 7

 

You enter the class. You greet students and state that today’s lesson is on poetry.

 

Blank faces? Curious looks? No reaction? We have seen it all, haven’t we?

 

Well, here are some tips on how to introduce poetry.

 

Since English is our Second Language, jumping to complex definitions might leave students confused. One simple way is to look for familiar items that they can connect with.

 

Ø Why not try lullabies?

 

Here is a famous one

‘Twinkle, twinkle little star’ in Rhymes for the Nursery (1806), a volume of verse for children written by Jane Taylor in collaboration with her sister Ann.

 

Ø What about the lyrics of popular songs?

Lyrics of songs are great examples to showcase poetic devices. For sure, their interest will be piqued not to mention some singings as well !

 

"Calm Down"

(Vibes, vibes, vibes)
Another banger

Baby, calm down, calm down
Girl, this your body e put in my heart for lockdown
For lockdown, oh lockdown
Girl you sweet like Fanta, Fanta
If I tell you say I love you no dey form yanga, oh yanga
No tell me no, no, no, no, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Baby come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love
You got me like whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
Shawty come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love, hmm

I see this fine girl, for my party she wear yellow
Every other girl they dey do too much but this girl mellow
Naim I dey find situation I go use take tell am hello
Finally I find way to talk to the girl but she no wan follow
Who you come dey form for? Mm mm
Why you no wan conform? Mm mm
Then I start to feel her bum-bum (warm)
But she dey gimme small-small
I know say she sabi pass that one
But she feeling insecure
'Cause her friends go dey gum her like chewing gum
Go dey gum her like chewing gum

Baby, calm down, calm down
Girl, this your body e put my heart for lockdown
For lockdown, oh lockdown
Girl you sweet like Fanta, Fanta
If I tell you say I love you no dey form yanga, oh yanga
No tell me no, no, no, no, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Baby come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love
You got me like whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
Shawty come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love, hmm

As I reach my house I say make I rest small (Make I rest small)
As me I wake up na she dey my mind (Na she dey my mind)
Day one, day two, I no fit focus (I no fit focus)
Na so me I call am, say make we link up (Say make we link up)
As I start to dey tell her how I feel all my heart dey race
Baby girl, if you leave me I no go love again
Because e get many girls wey put my heart for pain
Shebi, you feel my pain

Baby, calm down, calm down
Girl, this your body e put my heart for lockdown
For lockdown, oh lockdown
Girl you sweet like Fanta, Fanta
If I tell you say I love you no dey form yanga, oh yanga
No tell me no, no, no, no, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Baby come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love
You got me like whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
Shawty come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love, hmm

 

And a Mauritian touch will surely be an added bonus!

 

Lyrics  of Song ‘Li Tourner’

by Alain Ramanisum, DJ Assad, and Willy William

Dans tous fiesta li casse dans tas
Si li na pas la
Na pena nissa
Sirtout kan line fini bam bam
Sa so life content tamtam
Mette la faya sans tracas
Sans tralala, na pena bla bla
Pou dibouter
Li pou danser
Dans tous cotes li pou tourner

Mette so le corps devant
So le corps derriere
Li tourné, li tourné
Il met so corps devant
So le corps derriere
Li tourné, li tourné

Mette so le corps devant
So le corps derriere
Li tourné, li tourné
Il met so corps devant
So le corps derriere
Li tourné, li tourné

Leve so la main la haut (wo la la laaa)
Il met ses mains la haut (wo la la laaa)
Li leve so la main la haut (wo la la laaa)
Il met ses mains la haut (wo la la laaa)

Parfois dans mariaz
Sans l'etalaz
Li pas inviter
Li pou rentrer
Li pou manzer boire
Causer, rier
Couma dire propre fami la mariée
So nom Rozo, li ene grand cervo
Dans so cafe na pena triaz
Kot li passer
Li pou tracer
Meme casse cassé la li pou danser

Mette so le corps devant
So le corps derriere
Li tourné, li tourné
Il met so corps devant
So le corps derriere
Li tourné, li tourné

Mette so le corps devant
So le corps derriere
Li tourné, li tourné
Il met so corps devant
So le corps derriere
Li tourné, li tourné

Leve so la main la haut (wo la la laaa)
Il met ses mains la haut (wo la la laaa)
Li leve so la main la haut (wo la la laaa)
Il met ses mains la haut (wo la la laaa)

Bam bam dou dou dou bam bam
Apres li faire so tamtam
Tamtam kan fini bambam
Apres li faire so tamtam

Mais Bam bam bou dou dou bam bam
Apres li faire so tamtam
Tamtam kan fini bambam
Apres li faire so tamtam

Mette so le corps devant
So le corps derriere
Li tourné, li tourné
Il met so corps devant
So le corps derriere
Li tourné, li tourné

Mette so le corps devant
So le corps derriere
Li tourné, li tourné
Il met so corps devant
So le corps derriere
Li tourné, li tourné

Leve so la main la haut (wo la la laaa)
Il met ses mains la haut (wo la la laaa)
Li leve so la main la haut (wo la la laaa)
Il met ses mains la haut (wo la la laaa)

These (and many more) are readily available on the net and can be printed or projected in audio-visual rooms.

The idea behind it is to highlight how poetry can be found in our common experiences as well as showcase the style/form poetry can have. It will surely help as a form of deductive teaching!