One way to ‘get inside’ a poem is to write something along the same lines.
One way to ‘get inside’ a poem is to write something along the same lines. In this case, students will be trying to write something that might describe the life or thoughts of a parent, grandparent or carer before you came into their life.
This is a poem written by a Y11 student in response to ‘Before You Were Mine’. He has decided to introduce a rhyme, which Duffy does not employ. It’s up to students to decide in what style to write, of course.
Before I was Yours
Late nights, shallow sights
The occasional fight.
Where exactly would I be?
A few girls, my best boys and me.
Before the worry of love and money,
Back in the days
When things all seemed funny,
Responsibility was never my thing,
I’d go to town with the occasional fling
Until I met your mother.
Now I could imagine no other.
All in all, I will not lie,
Before I was yours, it was
Me, Myself and I.
© Trevor Millum and original author 2021
Photo by Mitchell Orr on Unsplash
