Throughout the Poetry out loud presentations and preparations, I learned about how much more those contestants are doing when they present. This is not just simple memorization to learn the poem. To learn the poem, you must understand its meaning and what the author was saying. This analysis was very difficult, but it served me very well in the presentation. When I stand in front of a classroom, I don’t feel very comfortable and I get nervous, when I get nervous I forget, but in this presentation, you cannot forget. I learned this, and I feel as if this presentation has prepared me for future situations like this.

 

In the poem that I read, called “A Thank You Note” by Michel Ryan, the author claims that notes represent so much more than the paper it is on. He describes the emotional impact a simple thank you note can have. The author describes the specific note mentioned in the poem as “line drawings that suggest the things they represent.” These notes are drawn simply, by a ten year old girl, who simply states on paper “what her mind fills in.” For example, the author states, “For her mother, she drew a flower, fragile on its stem.” The author also states his deep sense of appreciation for the note. He states, near the end of the poem, “Yet you would be this generous to think of my child.”

 

Poetry out Loud Rewrite Reflection

I especially enjoy this piece of writing, not for the actual writing as much as the experience it evokes when I read it. Because, I am someone who doesn’t like speaking in front of crowds, so this was a big moment for me to overcome. So, basically what I did for this piece of writing was rewrite it and personalize it to try and give the reader a similar feeling as to how I felt.