Week 15: HELP WANTED: POET!!!

Just as we had done with our revision day, I wanted to the students to take this milestone (week 15), and reflect on how they have grown as writers. Naturally, the best way to approach such a serious subject, is to be playful...

Instead of traditional poems, the students and read help wanted ads I had chosen out of a local paper. We studied the (very specific) language of the ads, and then got to ourselves. I asked the students to pretend they were muses, disastified with they artists they have worked with of late. They wanted not just any poet, but the best poet!

So then, what makes the best poet? I asked students to think of themselves, and what they ideally wanted from their own poetry, while I asked them several questions. What kind of poems do you want to write? Are they tragic, romantic, sports only? Are the poems long or short? What kind of person is your poet? And so on.

The assignment then, was to write a help-wanted-ad-poem, looking for the ideal poet of their choosing...

From Ms. Gonzalez's Class:

Help wanted: Poet!
Cristina V.

Inspire others and have fun: A beautiful inspired
poet that writes sad love poems about teen
couples. Short poems with about 4-6 stanzas
and two lines each. The poems have to rhyme
and must have a good rhythm to it.

It should also contain similes and
metaphors. Most inspired poet will
get the job!


Help wanted: Poet!
Omar F.

The Chicago Sun-Times is looking for
a poet with five years experience. You will
write a funny poem each day about
current events. They will need to
be short poems and have a good
rhythm. The job pays $950 for each poem
written. For more information (773) 222-5555.

Help wanted: Poet!
Jesus A.

Help wanted in the school of Rosario Castellanos.
Desiring the best poet of the city, a poet that
writes happy poems about cities and humans
and animals. A poet with a lot of intelligence.

From Ms. Formisano's Class:

Help wanted: Poet!
Pablo G.

I want a poet
who writes
love poems.

Must write
long, short,
and sweet.

Has to be a girl.

She must be
sweet, nice, kind,
and hardworking.

Help wanted: Poet!
Guadalupe V.

I’m looking for a poet
that says things about
love, about how important
it is to those people who
don’t like you to see you
with that person you love.
And looking for a poet that
is more important to my heart.

Help wanted: Poet!
Gustavo G.

I am looking
for a poet

That is kind
and can make
funny poems
and likes
to work.
From Mr. Lukas' Class:

Help wanted: Poet!
Omar A.

Dissatisfied muse
seeks poet.

Poet must write
about nature.

Poet must use
animals in it and
must make it
funny and
intelligent.

Poem has to
be short.

Help wanted: Poet!
Edwin G.

Dissatisfied muse seeks poet:

Poet must talk
about death.

Must write a
long poem.

Also have to write
about evil animals.

The poems have to
sound manly, smart
and amusing.

Help wanted: Poet!
Martin M.

Dissatisfied muse
seeks poet, must write
crazy poems poet must
write short poems
poet must write about
the world poem must
be crazy, cool, and down.