Our+Battlefield

My Battlefield

Materials: Published Poem My Poem Handout with directions/prompt and list of soldiers with their discriptions Pencils

Prompt: So far in class we have been discussing the causes, troubles and outcomes of WWI. During this time of battle, many soldiers and poets published their experiences of feelings towards the war. Now it is your turn to create your own poem as if you were a soldier during WWI. Below is a published poem by Julian Grenfell and a model poem I created using this prompt.

Pre-Writing: 1. Think about how it must have felt as a soldier to fight on a battlefield. 2. Pick one specific soldier from the list I have provided you. Beside the soldier's name is a brief description of his life during war. In each description there are adjectives that describe the soldier. Choose the soldier whose life seems to be the most interesting to you. 3. Next, take about 3 minutes to list the most important details from the description you would like to write about (for example, he was brave, honest, courageous, etc.).

Drafting: 1. Start your poem with the following line: "The _ earth ," 2. In the next 6-8 lines, describe how the earth looked that specific day you were fighting on the field. Be sure to use adjectives to describe your nouns, for this is how Grenfell wrote his poetry. 3. In the next 4-6 lines, begin using the adjectives you found in your description about your soldier. Describe his life on the field on that specific day. Do not include the soldier's name. Only use "the fighting man" when you are referring to your soldier. (We will share our poems and then try to figure out which soldier we are describing!) 4. The findal 2-4 lines should be your poem's closing. Here you may end your poem as you would like. You may want to think about if the soldier survived, how his day may have ended or leave the audience wanting more! 5. Finally, give your poem a title. It can be as simple as my title or very creative! 6.Remeber to put "Created By:" and then your name under the title to take credit for your work :)

Published Poem: Into Battle By: Julian Grenfell

The naked earth is warm with spring, And with green grass and bursting trees Leans to the sun's gaze glorying, And quivers in the loving breeze; And life is Colour and Warmth and Light, And a striving evermore for these; And he is dead who will not fight; And who dies fighting has increase.

The fighting man shall from the sun Take warmth, and life from the glowing earth; Speed with the light-foot winds to run, And with the trees a newer birth; And find, when fighting shall be done, Great rest, and fullness after dearth.

All the bright company of Heaven Hold him in their high comradeship--- The Dog-star, and the Sisters Seven, Orion's Belt and sworded hip.

Model Poem:
 * My Battlefield**
 * By: Ms. Smith**
 * The round earth is bright with light,**
 * And leaves are blowing on the wet ground.**
 * All the men can see are blue skies in sight;**
 * The feathered birds make a chirping sound.**
 * Then they flap their wings and make a flight;**
 * Unmarked territory, so far, is what they have found.**
 * They come near the mark to fight,**
 * Waiting for the drum to pound.**
 * The fighting man takes upon his knife,**
 * And looks behind is soldier to his team.**
 * He raises his mighty hand for his life,**
 * Then runs forever as it seems.**
 * Running wild in his strong strife,**
 * They meet the intruding team.**
 * The day has not come to an end;**
 * The sun is still high in the sky.**
 * The strong men want to fight for their friend,**
 * And show the world they can try.**