Free lesson plan: writing a love poem

LESSON PLAN: WRiting a love poem

for aspiring adult writers and teenagers, exploring romance and commitment through poetry.

Could be adapted for younger age groups

	Groups, timing	content	A/V aids
Introduction	5 minutes	In this hour we will 1. Read two poems 2. Discuss their meaning 3. Write a few lines 4. Share a little	Aims projected overhead
First poem	2 minutes	Wedding by Alice Oswald	Handout: Wedding
Impressions	5 minutes	What strikes you first of all?
Rereading	In pairs, 5 minutes	Read the poem to a partner and talk about its meaning.
Deeper thoughts	silently, 5 minutes	It's quite an intimate poem, write down some ideas; what does the poem evoke for you?	Paper and pens
Second poem	2 minutes	If I could tell you by WH Auden	Handout: If I could tell you
Impressions	5 minutes	Seek to include people who haven't spoken up.
Rereading.	In pairs, 5 minutes	Read the poem to a partner and talk about its meaning.
Writing	silently, 10 minutes	Write creatively borrowing an idea or a rhythm from the poems.
Sharing	10 minutes	Talk about what you've learnt or read your writing aloud
Feedback	5 minutes	Comments on today's task
Summary	1 minute	Well done, today we've done some creative thinking and writing.

Handout, page set-up: landscape, two columns cut to A5 size

If I Could Tell You

Time will say nothing but I told you so
Time only knows the price we have to pay;
If I could tell you I would let you know.

If we should weep when clowns put on their show,
If we should stumble when musicians play,
Time will say nothing but I told you so.

There are no fortunes to be sold, although,
Because I love you more than I can say,
If I could tell you I would let you know.

The winds must come from somewhere when they blow,
There must be reasons why the leaves decay;
Time will say nothing but I told you so.

Perhaps the roses really want to grow,
The vision seriously intends to stay;
If I could tell you I would let you know.

Suppose the lions all get up and go,
And the brooks and soldiers run away;
Will Time say nothing but I told you so?
If I could tell you I would let you know. 

WH Auden

Wedding

From time to time our love is like a sail
and when the sail begins to alternate
from tack to tack, it's like a swallowtail
and when the swallow flies it's like a coat;
and if the coat is yours, it has a tear
like a wide mouth and when the mouth begins
to draw the wind, it's like a trumpeter
and when the trumpet blows, it blows like millions . . .
and this, my love, when millions come and go
beyond the need of us, is like a trick;
and when the trick begins, it's like a toe
tip-toeing on a rope, which is like luck;
and when the luck begins, it's like a wedding,
which is like love, which is like everything.

 Alice Oswald