Question
Have you ever read a book or a poem and, upon reading a certain phrase or description, felt as though the author or poet was speaking directly to you? This is one of the joys of poetry. The Italian author Salvatore Quasimodo described the sensation this way: “Poetry is the revelation of a feeling that the poet believes to be interior and personal which the reader recognizes as [their] own.” What Quasimodo is saying here is that when poets write poems, they explain a specific feeling that they think only they have. But then, a reader reads the explanation and realizes that they have that same feeling. It can be a powerful experience. Poetry can do many things, but one of the greatest is to make people feel like they aren’t alone. In this portfolio, you will experience this idea as you write two poems in response to this prompt: Write two poems using different forms. They can be from your own point of view about something you feel strongly about, or they can be from the perspective of someone else. Portfolio Introduction Over the next lesson, you will write a Poetry Portfolio. You will have one day to address the learning goals and complete the portfolio. Type of Writing Definition Poetry can allow poets to explain a specific feeling they think only they have, but when a reader reads that poetry, they realize they have the same feeling. Poetry can do many things, but one of the greatest is to make people feel like they aren't alone. Portfolio Topic Write two poems using two different forms about something you feel strongly about, or from the perspective of someone else (or an alternate topic as assigned by your teacher).
Answers
GPT-4o mini
### Portfolio Introduction
Poetry holds a unique power to convey deep, often solitary emotions that resonate universally. As Salvatore Quasimodo aptly noted, the experience of reading poetry can unveil feelings that an author believes are intimate and individualistic, yet which readers recognize as their own. This shared connection is one of poetry's greatest gifts—reminding us that we are not alone in our feelings. In this portfolio, I will explore my emotions through the lens of two distinct poetic forms. Each poem will capture a unique perspective on a topic that profoundly resonates with me.
---
### Poem 1: "Beneath the Surface" (Free Verse)
In the quiet hours,
when the world unwinds,
I sit beneath the weight of unspoken words,
swimming in a sea of silence.
The shadows creep closer,
filling the room with echoes of doubt,
and I wonder—
who else feels this heavy silence,
this longing that burrows deep,
like roots grasping for water
in the parched earth of my heart?
Light dances on the surface,
but I am anchored below,
in the depths of anxiety's embrace.
Do you, too, know this solitude?
The nights stretched thin with whispers,
each breath a reminder
of fears disguised as whispers of motivation,
the weight of expectations hung like anvils
over delicate dreams.
Yet in this whispered solitude,
I find a kindred spirit—
the voice that speaks to my raw edges,
reminding me:
you are not alone,
even when the shadows loom.
Together, we rise,
beyond the depths,
toward the horizon,
where hope glimmers softly,
waiting for us to surface.
---
### Poem 2: "Perspective" (Haiku)
An old man sits still—
his wrinkled hands cradle time,
stories in silence.
---
### Reflection
Through these two poems, I aimed to capture the essence of feeling alone yet connected, both personally and through the lens of others' experiences. The free verse poem explores my own struggles with anxiety and the often-weighty silence that accompanies it, while the haiku reflects the poignant stillness and hidden tales of an elderly figure, suggesting the universal nature of shared experiences. Each form serves to emphasize the emotions we carry and the comfort we can find in recognizing them in others.
Poetry holds a unique power to convey deep, often solitary emotions that resonate universally. As Salvatore Quasimodo aptly noted, the experience of reading poetry can unveil feelings that an author believes are intimate and individualistic, yet which readers recognize as their own. This shared connection is one of poetry's greatest gifts—reminding us that we are not alone in our feelings. In this portfolio, I will explore my emotions through the lens of two distinct poetic forms. Each poem will capture a unique perspective on a topic that profoundly resonates with me.
---
### Poem 1: "Beneath the Surface" (Free Verse)
In the quiet hours,
when the world unwinds,
I sit beneath the weight of unspoken words,
swimming in a sea of silence.
The shadows creep closer,
filling the room with echoes of doubt,
and I wonder—
who else feels this heavy silence,
this longing that burrows deep,
like roots grasping for water
in the parched earth of my heart?
Light dances on the surface,
but I am anchored below,
in the depths of anxiety's embrace.
Do you, too, know this solitude?
The nights stretched thin with whispers,
each breath a reminder
of fears disguised as whispers of motivation,
the weight of expectations hung like anvils
over delicate dreams.
Yet in this whispered solitude,
I find a kindred spirit—
the voice that speaks to my raw edges,
reminding me:
you are not alone,
even when the shadows loom.
Together, we rise,
beyond the depths,
toward the horizon,
where hope glimmers softly,
waiting for us to surface.
---
### Poem 2: "Perspective" (Haiku)
An old man sits still—
his wrinkled hands cradle time,
stories in silence.
---
### Reflection
Through these two poems, I aimed to capture the essence of feeling alone yet connected, both personally and through the lens of others' experiences. The free verse poem explores my own struggles with anxiety and the often-weighty silence that accompanies it, while the haiku reflects the poignant stillness and hidden tales of an elderly figure, suggesting the universal nature of shared experiences. Each form serves to emphasize the emotions we carry and the comfort we can find in recognizing them in others.