The+Wrong+Side+of+the+Cross

Materials

 * Copy of the original poem "The Wrong Side of the Cross"
 * Pencils
 * Paper
 * WWI dates

Prompt
We have been studying the battles, politics, causes, victories, and losses of WWI. It is important to also understand the story of a soldier. The poem "The Wrong Side of the Cross" tells the story of a WWI soldier who lost his life and his love. We are going to be using this poem as a model to create our own poems that tell the stories of soldiers on and off the battlefield.

Pre-Writing
I want you to imagine a WWI soldier. Do not only think of his life as a soldier but also as a person. Before drafting your poem write down a few ideas about the soldier.
 * What was his home like?
 * Who did he leave behind?
 * What are his biggest fears?
 * Does he survive and return home? or Does he die in battle?

Drafting

 * 1) Start your poem with "He left the ___(Date in WWI)___
 * 2) In the next 2 lines describe the soldiers departure from home
 * 3) In the next 3 lines describe who he left behind
 * 4) In the next 2-3 lines describe his life at war
 * 5) In the remaining lines describe the soldiers life after the war or if he did not return describe how life went in his absence
 * 6) After you finish writing give you poem a title that represents your soldier story

My Poem
"The Never Ending Journey" by; Alex Goforth

He left the thirteenth of December, 1916. The tears falling from his eyes Blurred the train station scene. His mother begged him not to go He swore he would see her soon. His father saluted as the train began to move. And away he went, to foreign lands He saw many lose their youth. So far way from home The injury came. The young man returned Scarred by what he had seen. The faces of the fallen Are forever in his dreams Reminding him of his guilt. Refraining him from truly returning home. A soldier trapped On the never ending journey

Original Poem
"The Wrong Side of the Cross" by: Richard E. Hughes

He left the 3rd of April, 1917, His hand from the train window Was the last of him she’d seen. He promised he’d return again To ask her father for her hand. And went away to battle In France’s verdant land. He didn’t come back to claim her, She took another’s hand. And when her husband died she crossed the waves, To find her missing man. In countless cemeteries, she tread upon the sod Reading every marker, some said, “Known but to God. Reading names on Stars and Crosses, Wondering how much each life cost, She didn’t see she missed a row And passed the wrong side of the Cross.