Free Verse Friday - Lyrical Language
Friday, October 21 2011 by Valerie the Book Club Lady
So far, I have shared free verse novels teaching about poetry, conveying deep emotion, painting a broad picture, and being accessible to both young and teen audiences. In these past weeks my goal has been to increase the reader’s comfort level with free verse, since many people immediately associate poetry with reading something that is hard to understand.
Free verse isn’t always about writing metaphorically or “poetically,” but some novels do a great job including this attribute in the midst of their stories. This week I will share two of my favorite free verse novels that portray the simple characteristic of being lyrical and poetic.
GROW by Juanita Havill drew me in with a delightful cover and illustrations, and captured me with the sweet lyrical writing. This is a story of a community garden and the struggles of both the garden and the people tending it. Descriptions of everything from the neighbor lady to the vegetables to the night air are expertly written. Maybe an example would best illustrate:
“Me hurrying home
to fold laundry.
Me singing, singing
singing all day
with that happy,
warm-goodness
feeling spreading
over my body
like liquid sunshine,
like Christmas in July.”
My second novel, Hurricane Dancers by Margarita Engle, has all my favorite things wrapped in one package – historical fiction, engaging characters and lyrical writing. This story is of a slave aboard a fictional ship sailed by real historical figures from the 1500’s. The ship is destroyed during a hurricane, freeing the slave. Dazzling images written from unique cultural perspectives add richness and depth to this story and its exploration of what being free really means. Again, maybe it is best to see the actual words for yourself.
“I listen
to the song
of the creaking planks,
the roll and sway
of clouds in sky,
wild music
and thunder,
the groans
of wood,
a mourning moan
as this old ship
remembers
her true self,
her tree self, rooted
and growing,
alive,
on shore.”
I hope you enjoy both these gems!
~Valerie
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