The Base Stealer by Robert Francis

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The Base Stealerby Robert Francis

• Poised between going on and back, pulled
• Both ways taut like a tightrope-walker,
• Fingertips pointing the opposites
• Now bouncing tiptoe like dropped ball
• Or a kid skipping rope, come on, come on
• Running a scattering of steps sidewise
• How he teeters, skitters, tingles, teases
• Taunts them, hovers like an ecstatic bird
• Hes only flirting, crowd him, crowd him,
• Delicate, delicate, delicate, delicate now!

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Sad Happy
Excited Proud
Hurt Angry
Frightened Hopeful
Embarrassed Ashamed
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How to Make a Poem
Awakening the Heart, Georgia Heard

• Close your eyes.
• Dont peek.
• Close them tight,
• tight so its
• dark, dark
• till you see something
• in sight.
• Close your eyes
• dont peek.
• Try
• and see a poem.
• Danielle Pioggia, Grade 3 (125)

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Six-Room Poem
First Room Think of something youve seen
outside that is amazing, beautiful and
interesting OR Think of some time long ago that
is a special memory OR Think of a moment in
time that has stayed in your mind like a
picture ACTIVITY Close your eyes. See your
image as clearly as a photograph. Notice the
details. Describe it
Image
From Georgia Heards Awakening the Heart
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Six-Room Poem
Second Room Looking at the same photograph in
your mind, focus on the quality of
light. Questions to ask yourself Is it bright?
Cloudy? Dull? Are there shadows?
Colors? Examples Shiny blues, Sparkling
red ACTIVITY Describe the quality of light
Image
Light
From Georgia Heards Awakening the Heart
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Six-Room Poem
Third Room As you picture your image, what can
you hear? Focus on the sounds you
hear. Questions to ask yourself Maybe its
silent. What kind of silence? Examples Rustling
of leaves, Pitter-patter of rain, Sweet
laughter ACTIVITY Describe the sounds you hear
Image
Light
Sounds
From Georgia Heards Awakening the Heart
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Six-Room Poem
Fourth Room Write down any questions you might
have about the image. Questions to ask
yourself Do you want to know anything else
about the image? Do you wonder
something? Examples Why were we in this place
in the winter? Why was I with them? ACTIVITY
Write your questions
Image
Light
Questions
Sounds
From Georgia Heards Awakening the Heart
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Six-Room Poem
Fifth Room Write down any feelings you have
about your image. Questions to ask
yourself How was I feeling? How do I feel
now? Example I remember being so happy as we
played outside together. ACTIVITY Write your
feelings
Image
Light
Questions
Sounds
Feelings
From Georgia Heards Awakening the Heart
9
Six-Room Poem
Sixth Room As you look over all your
rooms, think of one word, a few words, a
phrase, a line, or a sentence that is important
to you and/or describes the image
entirely. ACTIVITY Repeat your word or words
three times
Image
Light
Questions
Sounds
Feelings
Repetition
From Georgia Heards Awakening the Heart
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Where do I go from here?

• Options
• Need help? Use the starters
• I see
• I feel
• I hear (etc.) using the 5 senses.
• Add some rooms to describe image using similes
  and/or metaphors
• Add smells, touch, taste that students can
  imagine in the images
• Use images and Photo Story to create an e-Poem.

From Georgia Heards Awakening the Heart
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32 Takes the Field
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Image Beach in Hilton Head Past and Present Children swimming Digging holes People walking Collecting shells Light Sunset Soft hues of Pink, orange, purple Fading shadows Rising moon
Sound Waves crashing Children laughing Gulls screeching Dogs barking Boats passing Questions Where are the dolphins? Are the children safe? When will I return?
Feelings Relaxation Joy Calm Warmth Closeness to family and friends Repeating Word(s) Crashing waves Dancing dolphins Hilton Head Undying pleasure
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Hilton Head Past and Present From honeymoon to
motherhood The place I love to be Hilton Head,
South Carolina Relaxed, care-free Crashing waves
and Dolphins dancing Bring undying pleasure to
me At sunset the colors are muted A true joy to
behold Pink, orange, purple Fading shadows and
rising moon taking hold Crashing waves
and Dolphins dancing Bring undying pleasure to me
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Boys digging the biggest hole ever Girls looking
for the perfect shell People strolling hand in
hand Wondering have they ever felt so
well? Crashing waves and Dolphins dancing Bring
undying pleasure to me
Gulls screeching as they feast Children laughing
while they run Dogs barking, running off their
leash Boats chugging by in the dazzling
sun Crashing waves and Dolphins dancing Bring
undying pleasure to me
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From the joy of being with my husband as a
newlywed To the calm of watching our children
play As well as the closeness of sisters and
girlfriends Makes the memory of relaxation one
that does not melt away Crashing waves
and Dolphins dancing Hilton Head Brings undying
pleasure to me - By Jennifer Karpenko