Non-Rhyming Poem

Mora, Pat. My Own True Name: New and Selected Poems for Young Adults, 1984-1999. Pinata Books. Houston, Texas. 2000.  ISBN: 9781558852921.

Introduction:

Have a poinsettia plant in the front of the room as well as books about poinsettias for students to see when they enter the room.

Ask if anyone knows the name of the plants and what time of year we typically see those plants.

Make a large copy of Poinsettia by Pat Mora and have it placed so all students can see the poem.

Read the poem aloud:

Poinsettia

      by Pat Mora

You grew green and ignored 

wild in the rocky hills of Mexico

a common weed.

A brown-eyed boy

with no Christmas gift for the Virgin

picked you

though he wanted to blaze her shrine

with gold or silver or stars.

He carried you inside a dark adobe church

set you before a flickering candle

cried in shame at his poor offering.

That tear

stained your green leaves red.

Reread the poem asking students to close their eyes and visualize what they are hearing in the poem.  A nice touch would be to dim the lights while reading the poem if you have a Christmas tree for decoration, reading the poem by the lights on the tree might add an ambiance.

Extension:  Discuss the Christmas story and the various parts of the poem and how it relates to the Christmas story.  

As a follow up activity read the Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie DePaola.  Have a class discussion on what the poem and book have in common.