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“You enter the extraordinary by way of the ordinary.” ~Frederick Buechner

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Words With Impact: Direct Language Nuance


Workshop: Discover Words That Sing

“All the poet can do is warn. That is why true poets must be truthful.” Wilfred Owen


Recognizing and Developing Implicit and Explicit Language
Read the following poem Emplumada, from the University of Pittsburg Press. As soon as you finish, write down a journal response of your immediate thoughts and feelings—no analysis—just your immediate reaction.

Emplumada
BY LORNA DEE CERVANTES
When summer ended
the leaves of snapdragons withered
taking their shrill-colored mouths with them.
They were still, so quiet. They were
violet where umber now is. She hated
and she hated to see
them go. Flowers

born when the weather was good - this
she thinks of, watching the branch of peaches
daring their ways above the fence, and further,
two hummingbirds, hovering, stuck to each other,
arcing their bodies in grim determination
to find what is good, what is
given them to find. These are warriors

distancing themselves from history.
They find peace
in the way they contain the wind
and are gone.

Would you classify this poem as using implicit or explicit vocabulary? Back up your opinion with examples. For instance:

Literal—explicit: two hummingbirds, hovering,
Figurative—implicit: They find peace

 Is the use of nature metaphors effective or not? Why?


Action Steps:

1. Take a few lines that are explicit and implicit and reverse them to be contrary.

2. In what way does the power of the phrases diminish in expression?

Share: What other metaphor concept other than nature could this poem be spoken in? Why or why not?

Read deep, marcy




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