The poems in "Warm Up" in The Crossover by Kwame Alexander do exhibit characteristics of both verse and prose.
Verse:
Example 1:
“The truth is,
time marches on,
we're all good soldiers
until someone's gone.”
This excerpt from the poem "Talkin' Bout Moms" features a structured and rhythmic verse style, with concise and intentional line breaks to create emphasis and flow.
Example 2:
“Time to tether up my shoes,
time to drain my lucky shot,
time to dribble-drive and scoot,
time to school these fools,
time to… whoops, wait
a minute —
Alliteration creeps into my
head
and I almost forego my
summer
basketball vow’”
This excerpt from the poem "Funky Dunk" showcases a more lyrical and poetic verse structure, with a playful use of rhyme and alliteration to create a musical quality in the language.
Prose:
Example 1:
"I didn't do it on purpose,
I swear. But all I had to do
was mention a two-three zone
or talk about pick-and-roll
offense and my Dad would
freeze, like someone had just
pushed the pause button. He'd
squint, and his nostrils would
flare, and he'd say, 'Son, those
are the only two plays in
basketball?' And then he'd
walk away, shaking his head."
This excerpt from the poem "Basketball Rule #6" is written in a more narrative prose style, with a focus on storytelling and a linear structure that reads like a short story.
Example 2:
"When you make it through
your first games
on the varsity,
the freshmen,
then you, the last
of the genes.
The wind.
The child who dribbles
the vine.
You win."
This excerpt from the poem "Goodnight" combines elements of prose and verse, with a more free-flowing and fragmented structure that blurs the lines between the two styles.
Do the poems in Warm Up in The Cross over by Kwame Alexander have a characteristic of verse and prose? List specific examples for each poem
1 answer