Because...Just Because - The Chicago Poetry Center

Because…Just Because

We talked about the nonsequiter or poems that appear to be non-linear (minus the humor, which the nonsequiter does a lot of the time). This really freed up some room for everyone to write poems without thinking about creating narrative. The poem “Because” by Yanni Rotsis (see link below) really looks at an overall message rather than making sense in the lines themselves. We also talked about the idea of a “pivot” or “turning” in poems. Almost every line in this poem has a turn in it, this jump from one idea to the next is what creates non-linear feel and can create what is called the “lyric.” The students were really able to grasp this idea and were able to write poems that really took the nonsequiter and made it interesting.

Ms. Henley

My Room by Tevelle T.

Because the laptop was always on
Because the Xbox 360 is broken
Because the bed is messy
Because the hat is always being worn
Because the door is always open
Because the pencil sharpener is not mechanical
Because the sandals are name brand
Because the closet is full of clothes
Because the clothes are on the floor
Because the tv is not inside
My house is full of people
These are the things of my room

Untitled by Malcolm E.

Because the table fell
Because the walls can’t break
Because the bricks help
Because I locked my locker
Because I shot the basketball
Because I watch football
Because the rail broke
Because the door opened
Because the gate locked
Because the house enclosed
Because he tossed the basketball
Because I did pushups

Untitled by Keyshaun L.

Because I live in the sky
Because I eat pie

Ms. Henley

The Opps I See by Alfrederick A.

Because the money
Because the loot
Because the book
Because the phone

Because I by Martavius G.

Because the squirrel stole the nuts
Because I get money
Because I had to use the hammer
Because I touch the Eiffel Tower
Because the pumpkin green
Because I sat at the desk
Because the people walk past
Because the car drove past
Because the owl’s eyes got big
Because I’m the leader

Things I See by Monifah L.

Because the posters are on the wall
Because the tvs turned on
Because construction workers were building a house
Because the sky was light blue
Because the classrooms are full
Because the Jordans were new
Because the jewelry was gold
Because the teacher was talking
Because the flower were red
Because the books were ripped
Because the clock was ticking
Because the hair was curly