Poetry Out Loud

Part One:
1.  "So This Is Nebraska" by Ted Kooser
2.  "Not Guilty" by David Rivard
3.  "Onions" by William Matthews (Suggested by: Kayla)
4.  "A Birthday" by Christina Rossetti
5.  "Golden Retrievals" by Mark Doty

Part Two:
Of the five poems above, I liked "Golden Retrievals" and "Not Guilty."  I liked these poems because they were interesting but still simple.  I also think that they accomplished what poetry is supposed to accomplish: they took something I already knew and said it in a way that I had a hard time understanding.  The poets took the obvious and viewed it in a new way.
I didn't particularly care for the poems "So This Is Nebraska," "Onions," and "A Birthday."  I didn't like these poems because they were too confusing, and they were about things that I had no relation to.  They did not interest me at all, and I would not choose these poems.
If I had to choose a poem I would probably pick "Golden Retrievals" because it is a poem that I like, but it is shorter.   I think, however, that I could do a good enough job performing the poem to make up for the missed points for difficulty.
I connected with that poem because I have a dog, and I have often wondered what she was thinking.  This poem is written from the mindset of a dog, and I found that very interesting.  The poem in general appealed to me, and I really enjoyed this poem (unlike the other poems I had read).

Part Three:
It will be easy for me to have good accuracy.  I am good at memorizing and I will not need to use the prompter at all.  Voice and articulation will also be easy for me.  I do drama so I know how to project, and I can articulate very well.
Physical presence and evidence of understanding will be the two hardest categories for me.  When I get nervous I cannot stand still.  It will be hard for me to appear calm while performing.  I also don't understand poetry very well.  Unless I have help, I will probably not be able to understand the poem I pick, and I cannot convey that while performing.

Part Four:
Jackson Hille recited the poem "Forgetfulness."  This was a successful poem because he really connected with the audience.  He articulated well, and he clearly understood the meaning of the poem and it's satirical tone.  He was able to portray that to the audience very well.
Shawntay Henry performed the poem "Frederick Douglass."  This performance was successful because her dramatic action and voice really shows her understanding of the poem.  She recited her lines slow and deliberately which gave the poem a somber tone.  Her stage presence demanded attention, and that is why people want to hear her speak.  That is why her poem was so successful.

Part Five:
I am going to memorize the poem "Invitation to Love."  I chose this poem because I love it.  I feel like I can relate to the poem really well, and I also like that the poem rhymes.  I thought the website was extremely helpful.  It has all the "grading" criteria and good performance videos to watch.  That really helped me a lot.  I am looking forward to the make-up competition in January.