A FEW SIMPLE FORMS OF ENGLISH POEMS
There are various reasons why people compose poetry. Some poems tell a story or describe a certain image in the reader’s mind. Others try to convey certain feelings such as joy and sorrow. The distinctive characteristics of poetry often include economical use of words, descriptive and vivid language, integrated imagery, literary devices such as similes and metaphors, and arrangement of words, lines, rhymes, and rhythm. Poets use many different forms of poetry to express themselves. Now we will look at a few of the simpler forms.
Some of the first poems a young child learns in English are nursery rhymes. They are usually the traditional poems or folk songs. The language of these rhymes, like Poem A, is to the point but has a storyline. Many children enjoy nursery rhymes because they rhyme, have a strong rhythm, and often repeat the same words. The poems may not make sense and even seem contradictory, but they are easy to learn and recite. By playing with the words in nursery rhymes, children learn about language.
One of the simplest kinds of poem is the “list poem”, which contains a list of things, people, ideas, or descriptions that develop a particular theme. List poems have a flexible line length and repeated phrases which give both a pattern and a rhythm to the poem. Some rhyme 〔like B and C〕, while others do not.
Another simple form of poem that amateurs can easily write is the cinquain, which is made up of five lines. With these, you can convey a strong picture or a certain mood in just a few words. Look at the example 〔D〕.
Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that consists of 17 syllables. It has a format of three lines, containing 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively. It is not a traditional form of English poetry, but is very popular with English writers. It is easy to write and, like the cinquain, can give a clear picture and create a special feeling using very few words. The haiku poem 〔E〕 on the right is a translation from Japanese, which shows a moment in the life of a delicate butterfly.
English speakers also enjoy poems from China, those from the Tang Dynasty in particular. A lot of Tang poetry has been translated into English, such as this one〔F〕.
With so many different forms of poetry to choose from, you may eventually want to write poems of your own. Give it a try!
A
Hush, little baby, don’t say a word,
Papa’s gonna buy you a mockingbird.
If that mockingbird won’t sing,
Papa’s gonna buy you a diamond ring.
If that diamond ring turns to brass,
Papa’s gonna buy you a looking glass.
If that looking glass gets broke,
Papa’s gonna buy you a billy goat.
If that billy goat won’t pull,
Papa’s gonna buy you a cart and bull.
B
Mother
Hundreds of stars in the deep blue sky,
Hundreds of shells on the shore together,
Hundreds of birds that go singing by,
Hundreds of bees in the sunny weather,
Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the world over.
George Cooper
C
LIFE
Life can be good,
Life can be bad,
Life is mostly cheerful,
but sometimes sad
Life can be dreams,
Life can be great thoughts
Life can mean a person,
Sitting in court.
D
Brother
Beautiful, athletic
Teasing, shouting, laughing
Friend and enemy too
Mine
E
A fallen blossom
Is coming back to the branch.
Look, a butterfly!
F
Where she awaits her husband
On and on the river flows.
Never looking back,
Transformed into stone.
Day by day upon the mountain top,
wind and rain revolve.
Should the traveller return,
this stone would utter speech.
Wang Jian
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．The characteristics and examples of five forms of poems. |
| B．Encourage readers to write their own poems. |
| C．Reasons of people composing poetry. |
| D．Different types of poems. |
| A. It is a list poem which shows the diversity of life. B. It is a description of a lovely brother. C. It is a translation of a Tang poetry, which describes a woman who waited for her beloved husband to come back from a journey. D. It is a nursery rhyme that illustrates a father’s love for his baby. E. It is a list poem expressing the love for his mother. F. It describes how a butterfly rests on a tree. |
Poem B
Poem C
Poem D
Poem E
Poem F
3. Why do poets use different forms of poetry?
| A．They want to express themselves. |
| B．They want to attract more people. |
| C．They want to describe things in more detail. |
| D．They want people to learn from them. |
| A．Most of these poems make sense. |
| B．These poems have weak rhythm. |
| C．They repeat certain words a lot. |
| D．They must be repeated by children. |
| A．A kind of poem with both a pattern and a rhythm. |
| B．A kind of poem which has five lines. |
| C．A kind of poem kids in the nursery like to recite. |
| D．A kind of poem with 17 syllables. |
| A．It is a traditional form of English poetry. |
| B．It is made up of five lines. |
| C．It gives a vague picture of things. |
| D．It is not difficult to write. |
| A．Read more poems. |
| B．Enjoy English poems. |
| C．Write their own poems. |
| D．Translate poems into other languages. |
| A FEW SIMPLE FORMS OF ENGLISH POEMS | Nursery | ·The language is |
| ·have a strong | ||
| List poem | ·contain a list of things, people, | |
| ·have a flexible line length and | ||
| Cinquain | ·made up of | |
| ·convey a strong picture or a certain | ||
| Haiku | ·a | |
| ·consist of 17 | ||
| Tang poem | ·the |
(1) Some of the first poems a young child learns in English are nursery rhymes.
(2) One of the simplest kinds of poem is the “list poem”, which contains a list of things, people, ideas, or descriptions that develop a particular theme.
(3) Another simple form of poem that amateurs can easily write is the cinquain, which is made up of five lines.
(4) Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that consists of 17 syllables. It has a format of three lines, containing 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively.
1. However, from my point of view, what benefits students most is reading English books, for it can help students gain a deeper understanding of English as a language.
2. Scores will be awarded by professional judges soon after the contestants recite their pre prepared poems in front of the audience.
3. You have to make sure you don’t turn two pages at once and make sure you find the repeats in the music when you have to go back to the right spot.
1. Those who are interested in the job, please send your resume to Endeavor@foxmail.com before Friday.
2. No matter what you do, as long as you have perseverance and devotion to do it, you will succeed.
3. He said he became just as nervous as those playing instruments on stage.
4. But like all performances, there are moments when things go wrong.
5. The oceans are so important that we should protect them for our future generations.
6. It’s well known that Chinese people attach great importance to labour, for it not only creates a better environment for us to live in but also advocates the spirit of diligence.
1. He just ducked his head and stared at his own shoes.
2. The blind and the lame are well cared for in our country.
3. He finally made up his mind to run and I urged him to go to the starting line.
4. Your umbrella may protect you in a shower, but it won’t keep you dry if there is a full rainstorm.
Experience the iconic features of Australia
25 Sep
Next week I’m travelling to Australia to visit a friend there over the school holidays. I plan to keep this blog to record my experiences and what I learn. I have already done some research on the country. Located to the south of the equator, below many other countries on the globe, it’s often informally referred to as “down under”.
I have also read about some iconic sites, such as the Sydney Opera House and the Great Ocean Road, and animals like the cute koalas and kangaroos. I can’t wait to see all of them! However, as I major insocial studies, I’m more interested in meeting people in Australia and experiencing their culture, food, and way of life.
1 Oct
I’m here in Sydney! Since I arrived, my friend has brought me to my first openair barbecue and has also shared many different but yummy meals with me, so my first impressions of Australia have been all about food! A lot of typical Australian food, such as the Sunday roast, is originally British. Bakeries, fastfood joints, butcher shops, cafes, and restaurants everywhere provide some of the premier food experiences in the world. The influence of Asian cultures, on the other hand, led to the introduction of bean curd and Asian herbs, along with Australian versions of foods like the Chineseinspired dim sim.
3 Oct
My friend and I have arrived in Katherine, a town in Australia’s Northern Territory. We’re here to learn about the life and customs of the Aborigines，who are native to Australia. The Aboriginal population might be small, but its influence is still visible. For example, “Bondi” in “Bondi Beach” is an Aboriginal word meaning “water breaking over rocks”.
To survive in this vast land on the ocean, the Aborigines had to be in close contact with nature. This shows in their music, too, which celebrates the natural world and the spiritual world around them. Most of their musical instruments are really just sticks found on the ground, among which there is an amazing instrument called the didgeridoo.
The didgeridoo is made from a tree branch which is hollow. To play the didgeridoo, you put your mouth on one end and blow while vibrating your lips. Unlike a horn, there are no finger holes. The didgeridoo player has to change the shape of his mouth in order to change pitch. A skilled player can play for a long time without stopping to breathe. He does this by continually breathing in through his nose while breathing out through his mouth and into the didgeridoo. I tried to learn how to play it, but after trying for hours, I was convinced that I could never make a musical sound with this instrument!
6 Oct
It’s almost time for me to say goodbye to Australia. I’ve enjoyed my time here very much. After being here for a while, my biggest impression is the complicated mix of peoples and cultures that make up the nation. Although the main cultural influence since 1788 has been Western culture, minority cultures have also played a part in shaping the unique Australian culture, with many of the new cultural influences contributed by immigrants. It is said that now nearly half of all Australian citizens were either born overseas or have parents who were born overseas.
Personally speaking, what I like most about Australia is the people themselves. They have a straightforward and freeandeasy attitude towards life, and their friendliness and warmth made me feel at home wherever I went.
After experiencing Australia, I have to say that I agree with the tourism slogan: “There’s nothing like Australia.”
1. What’s the main idea of the text?| A．The author’s impression of the food and music of Australia. |
| B．The author’s experiences in Australia. |
| C．The author’s impression of the people and culture of Australia. |
| D．The author’s impression of the attractions of Australia. |
| A．First impressions on Australia. B．Preparations before going to Australia. C．Reflections on multiculturalism. D．The culture of Aborigines. |
Blog entry 3
3. What does the phrase “down under” mean?
| A．Australia is surrounded by oceans. |
| B．Australia lies to the south of the equator. |
| C．Australia will be swallowed by rising sea water. |
| D．Australia has a lower ground level than other countries. |
| A．Love. | B．Nature. |
| C．History. | D．Food. |
| A．By changing his mouth shapes. |
| B．By breathing in more air. |
| C．By pressing the finger holes. |
| D．By closing his mouth tightly. |
| A．To show his disappointment at travelling. |
| B．To praise the effect of the advertising. |
| C．To remind visitors not to go to Australia. |
| D．To stress the beauty of Australia. |
Located to the south of the equator, below many other countries on the globe, Australia is often
A lot of typical Australian food originally comes from the UK. The influence of Asian cultures, on the other hand, resulted in the
The Aborigines are native to Australia. Their population might be small,
What impresses me most is the complicated mix of peoples and cultures. While the main cultural influence since
（1）Located to the south of the equator, below many other countries on the globe，it's often informally referred to as “down under”.
（2）To survive in this vast land on the ocean, the Aborigines bad to be in close contact with nature.
（3）Most of their musical instruments are really just sticks found on the ground, among which there is an amazing instrument called the didgeridoo.
VOLUNTEERING IN THE BUSH
8 March
I just got a parcel from home! It took about two weeks to arrive, and it was a bit damaged, but it was so nice to get some sweets and jam from home; I’ve been dying to have some of my favourite sweets, and it’s always nice to get mail!
So I’ve been here in the jungle for about a month now. My secondary school is a bush school. The classrooms are made of bamboo, with clay floors and roofs of grass. It takes me only a few minutes to walk to school down a dusty track covered in weeds. When I reach the school grounds, I’m greeted by a chorus of “good morning” from the boys. Unlike students in our country, these boys do not wear cotton uniforms, and many of them also have to walk a long way, sometimes for up to two hours, just to get to school.
There’s no electricity, running water or even textbooks, not to mention laptops, tablets, or other modern devices! All the students have are pencils, rubbers, and paper. I’m still trying to adapt to these conditions. I’ve had to become much more imaginative in my teaching. Science is my most challenging subject as my students have no concept of doing experiments. There is no equipment, and since there isn’t even a washroom, if I need water I have to carry it from my house in a basin! It’s important not to be too rigid about rules here, too. The other day I was showing the boys a chemistry experiment when, before I knew it, the mixture was bubbling out of the test tube spilling everywhere! The class became a circus as the boys, who had never come across anything like this before, started jumping out of the windows. Sometimes I wonder how relevant
chemistry is to these students — few will ever become chemists — and most will be going back to their villages after Year 8 anyway. To be honest, I doubt whether I’m making any difference to these boys’ lives at all.
17 April
Last weekend I made my first visit to a remote village, home to one of our students, Tombe. Another teacher and I walked for two and a half hours to get there — first, up a mountain from where we had fantastic views, and then down a shaded path to the valley below. When we arrived at the village, Tombe’s mother, Kiak, saw us coming and started crying “ieee ieee”. We shook hands with all the villagers. Everyone seemed to be related to Tombe.
Tombe’s father, Mukap, a man with a strong jaw and a wrinkled forehead, led us to his house, a low, round bamboo hut with no windows, with a door just big enough to get through, and with grass sticking out of the roof — this shows it is a man’s house. Such housing is dark inside so it took time for our eyes to adjust. Fresh grass had been laid on the floor and there was a platform for Jenny and me to sleep on. There was a fireplace in the centre of the hut. The only possessions I could see were one broom, a few saucers, a kettle, cups, pans, and a couple of jars.
Mukap built a fire outside and laid stones on it to heat. He then placed the hot stones in an empty oil drum with kau kau (sweet potato), ripe corn, and greens. He then covered the vegetables with banana leaves and left them to steam. It smelled delicious. We ate inside the hut sitting round the fire. I loved listening to the family talking softly to each other in their language, even though I could not participate much in the conversation. Luckily, Tombe interpreted for us.
Later, I noticed a can standing upside down on the grill over the fire. After a while, Tombe threw it out of the doorway. Tombe told me that the can was heated to dry out the leftover food. His family believes that leftovers attract bad spirits in the night, so any leftover food is dried up in a can and the can is then thrown out of the hut.
We left the village the next morning after many goodbyes and firm handshakes. My muscles were aching and my knees shaking as we dragged ourselves down the mountain towards home. That evening I fell happily into bed. It was such a privilege to have spent a day with Tombe’s family.
1. What’s the main idea of the text?| A．Jo went to a bush school to visit friends. |
| B．Jo’s experience as a volunteer in the bush. |
| C．Introduction of a bush school. |
| D．Introduction of Tombe’s home in the village. |
| A．Jo and another teacher visited Tombe’s home in the village. B．Getting mail from home made Jo feel nice. C．The school where Jo worked and Jo’s work at school. |
Part 2(Paras.2－3)
Part 3(Paras.4－8)
3. What’s the purpose of the author in writing the blog?
| A．To tell us her teaching life in the bush school as a volunteer. |
| B．To tell us her learning life in the bush school as a volunteer. |
| C．To tell us that she couldn’t get any money by teaching the poor students. |
| D．To tell us how happy she was in the small village. |
| A．Because they were frightened by the bubbling mixture. |
| B．Because they couldn’t stand the terrible smell of the mixture. |
| C．Because they didn’t like doing chemistry experiments. |
| D．Because they knew chemistry was not relevant to them. |
| A．Because this was Jo’s first visit to a remote village. |
| B．Because she was expressing her friendliness and warmth. |
| C．Because Jo walked for two and a half hours to get there. |
| D．Because she was afraid of strangers. |
| A．Happy. | B．Sad. |
| C．Worried. | D．Upset. |
Jo worked at a bush school whose classrooms
(1) There is no equipment, and since there isn’t even a washroom, if I need water I have to carry it from my house in a basin!
(2) The class became a circus as the boys, who had never come across anything like this before, started jumping out of the windows.
(3) His family believes that leftovers attract bad spirits in the night, so any leftover food is dried up in a can and the can is then thrown out of the hut.
1. He could only understand a word here and there.
2. Don’t fall for (＝Don’t be attracted by) her beauty.
3. In spite of the difficulties，we went on with our work.
4. We need to build a factory twice larger than this one.
5. She carried a basket full of eggs to visit her grandmother.
6. New office buildings are going up/are built everywhere.
7. The letter on the desk is for Mr Wu，our department manager.
8. He was so hungry that he finished off everything on the table.
9. He has been working here as an assistant to chairman for ten years.
10. We found everything in the lab in good order before doing experiment.
1. He is young but clever.
2. Traveling alone is quite dangerous.
3. It is an easy thing to do.
4. I think he is a man suitable for the job.
5. I find the yard fairly quiet.
