Apostrophe: definition and examples (Hand-out)
Reading tip: Read poetry carefully, paying attention to punctuation marks, particularly end marks. Read from end-mark to end-mark, and figure out the subject of each sentence.
In the following poem, what do you notice about the syntax? Why does the poet do what he does?
Lesson
Forrest Hamer
It was 1963 or 4, summer,
and my father was driving our family
from Ft. Hood to North Carolina in our 56 Buick.
We'd been hearing about Klan attacks, and we knew
and my father was driving our family
from Ft. Hood to North Carolina in our 56 Buick.
We'd been hearing about Klan attacks, and we knew
Mississippi to be more dangerous than usual.
Dark lay hanging from the trees the way moss did,
and when it moaned light against the windows
that night, my father pulled off the road to sleep.
Dark lay hanging from the trees the way moss did,
and when it moaned light against the windows
that night, my father pulled off the road to sleep.
Noises
that usually woke me from rest afraid of monsters
kept my father awake that night, too,
and I lay in the quiet noticing him listen, learning
that he might not be able always to protect us
that usually woke me from rest afraid of monsters
kept my father awake that night, too,
and I lay in the quiet noticing him listen, learning
that he might not be able always to protect us
from everything and the creatures besides;
perhaps not even from the fury suddenly loud
through my body about his trip from Texas
to settle us home before he would go away
perhaps not even from the fury suddenly loud
through my body about his trip from Texas
to settle us home before he would go away
to a place no place in the world
he named Viet Nam. A boy needs a father
with him, I kept thinking, fixed against noise
from the dark.
he named Viet Nam. A boy needs a father
with him, I kept thinking, fixed against noise
from the dark.
from Call & Response, 1995
Alice James Books, Farmington, Me.
Alice James Books, Farmington, Me.
Copyright 1995 by Forrest Hamer.
All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
HW--Read and prepare Act IV for tomorrow's (shortened) Socratic Seminar.
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