Figurative Language, Imagery, and Sound

I Am

I am from the flat fertile lands of the Deep South,

from methodically lilting accents and slow, sweltering summer days.

I am from a proud mix of Irish and Native American:

from the tales of warrior ancestors who fought and died for freedom.

I am from fictional landscapes, turns of phrases, and the written word

like Tolkien, McCaffrey, Rice, and a score of poets.

I am from beaches and forests,

from the grittiness of sand and the saltiness of the waves on hot summer days,

from dripping shadows and the hush of greenery on busy afternoons.

I am from a mix of femininity and strength,

from skirts and heels and fitted blouses,

from a hatred for sexism and people who will not stand up to claim their rights.

I am from the fast pace of urbanity,

from bustling sidewalk cafes and fine cuisine and expertly chilled drinks.

I am from establishments of learning,

from hallways echoing with sounds of laughter and youth,

from classrooms bursting with creativity and discussions and rustling papers.

I AM me… and there is no one else like me.

-- Lisa Kendrick

Now, think about yourself and who you are. What are your characteristics? Are there descriptions that can identify and explain the things you do, like, and represent?

Write your own "I Am" poem in a journal entry. It should be at least five lines and written with vivid detail. You may choose to begin each line with “I am…” or you may want to just go into each description. You may use stanza formation or not, or choose whether or not to use punctuation. Have fun and be creative!

If you need assistance on writing a journal entry, please visit the Developmental Module for more information. Once you have completed your journal entry, please save it with a file name of mod3_IAM and submit it to the journal dropbox.