Perkins+Poem+Activity


 * Model Poem:**

//Justice// by Langston Hughes

That Justice is a blind goddess Is a thing to which we black are wise: Her bandage hides two festering sores That once perhaps were eyes.

Justice is a prominent theme in //The Crucible//, as there really is none in the town. If you are accused of a crime, then you're automatically guilty - and if you're guilty, then you are sentenced to death. Confessing to your crime was the only way to avoid death. Unfortunately, this meant that many innnocent people confessed to crimes they did not commit, in order to keep their lives. The legal system, which is supposed to provide justice to individuals, is not providing any justice at all.
 * Activity/Directions:**

For this activity, we will go over Langston Hughes' poem //Justice// together as a class. It is a poem about the injustice that blacks received. In this poem, Justice (a proper noun) is blind - she is only supposted to listen to the facts and not become prejudice against others. However, Hughes is saying that Justice's eyes are gouged out, so she is unable to see the truth. We will discuss the poem in-depth, and take it line by line, because this is a very deep and symbolical poem and could be confusing to some students. Then, students will be prompted to think about a negative experience that has happened to them and try to think of a single world to describe it (examples include deception, lust, inequality, pain, heartbreak, etc). How did this affect their lives? How did it make them feel? What did this experience do to them, emotionally or physically? Students will complete a short free-write in their journals, and then we will go over the structure for the poem they are to write. I will then show the poem that I wrote based on the given format, and explain what it means to me. Looking at only the structure could be confusing, so students will be encouraged to reflect back on Hughes' poem and my example for guidance.

[Noun]

That [Noun - capitalize first letter] is a [adjective + noun] Is a thing to which we [adjective] are [adjective]: Her [noun] [verb ending with -s] [adjective + noun] That once perhaps were [noun - body part if possible]


 * My example:**

//Lust// by Ms. Perkins

That Lust is a cold monster Is a thing to which we young are vulnerable: Her temporary blanket hides hollow, empty spaces That once perhaps were hearts.