My Poem

I saw a perfect tree today

 

LILLIAN ALLEN

I saw a perfect tree today

From my cabin bed on a Via Rail train 

Through the North of Ontario

I saw a perfect tree today

It was tall and thin and scraggly and prim

Then I saw another just as perfect

Short and sturdy with branches and brambles 

And then another with a rugged fat trunk

Older than the rest, but just as perfect

I saw a dozen trees in a clump sharing the light

So their growth was stunted

But regal they were, plumped and perfect

And then a small twisted tree

with leaves fallen, trunk slanted

all the more perfect

I saw tens and hundreds, and thousands

And hundreds of thousands of trees

Not one single tree exactly like another

And yet they were all perfect, all perfect trees

A man-child from Mississauga heading to bend steel

To make his fortunes in the Alberta oil fields;

“I’ve never seen so many trees in my whole life”

A balding dude 30 years a social worker

Retiring home to Winnipeg, calms;

“Where I come from they cut them all down,

long, long, long before I was born.”

And I am reminded—This land, this land

Where cities have sprouted,

Blooming glistening skyscrapers at night

T’was all covered with trees once

One big forest we were once

All perfect trees.

Curricular Competencies Reflection

When choosing my poem, I was looking for something with 25 or more lines. I searched on the poetry in voice website for a poem which fit the requirements. Beyond that I wanted to recite a poem that covered the themes of beauty. We did numerous in class activities to prepare us for our final recitation. I found that tone mapping the poem helped me to feel more comfortable with the poem. The daily recitation made me feel more comfortable with presenting in front of others. Another strategy that helped me was to write the poem a few times to help with memory. Completing the paragraph gave me a deeper insight into the poem as well as the author. Analyzing the poem helped me to alter my tone map for the presentation.

Core competencies Reflection

I can contribute to and work with criteria to improve my own work; evidence of that is when we revised feedback from peers as well as the teacher to improve my work. We did this when reciting our poems.

In discussions and conversations, I help to build and extend understanding by sharing ideas with my peers. I also do this by asking questions and communicating with my classmates.

Examples of where I communicate clearly and purposefully can be seen in group and class discussions. I bring forward my ideas as well as listen to what the group has to say.