My favorite poem isn't a happy one, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost. As dark as it may be, this poem may be a great way to teach and show students how a lot of poetry goes beyond the words into a deeper meaning.
It, of course, is also just a great example of poetry. I think I love this poem because I feel so calm when I read it. It's sad, I know, but there's something eerily peaceful about the whole situation. I picture a cool, dark evening in the crisp snow. A tired man, and a tired horse. I love winter.
Anyhow, this could be a way to open a new door to a different type of poetry for my students. No, I don't expect deep, dark, serene imagery. However, my students could dig deeper than "Today I had fries for lunch, they are fun to munch..." (Those were the basis of my poems when I was in elementary school).
Maybe I could share this poem as my favorite poem to my class. Then each student could go on a hunt for her favorite poem as well. We could have a large group discussion where we share our favorite poems and explain why we like them. This could lead into a more in depth discussion of the mechanics of poetry (What kind of poem is this? What devices did the author use to express his message?)
I love poetry.
And I'm going to take a risk...and post one of my poems (not my favorite, sorry) here at the end.
I figure I should leave on a happy and cheesy note...
lay under the stars
jump in the leaves
swim through the ocean
swing through the trees
smile at a stranger
laugh at yourself
go crazy with friends
hold your hand out to help
pick a bright flower
feel the grass on your toes
run through a sprinkler
take a sip from the hose
dance in the rain
sing to the sky
feel the wind in your hair
find your wings, you can fly
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