LESSON 1

American Poems
Prepared by: Glaziel Mae Empat
Submitted to: Ma’am Chalsia Kirstinne
E. Morales
CONATION

•To learn how to read and appreciate poetry.

•To imagine beyond the poems-their
implications and context.
•To imagine and create a person.
•To write a descriptive poem with this distinct
persona.
INTRODUCTION
North American is a continent that spans across 23
independent countries. The countries included are the United
States, Canada, and Mexico. The vast and diverse history of this
continent has given its people literature in diverse languages.
Along the Mississippi valley and in Canada they speak French.
Readers must discover the persona in the poem “Scent” by
Jennie Redling.
EXCURSUS
Jennie Redling is a recipient of BMI’s Jerry Harrington Musical
Theatre Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement as a Librettist, The
National Stanley Drama Award, and the Arlene R. and William P. Lewis
Playwriting Award for Women. Ms. Redling’s musical (with composer
Phillip Palmer and lyricist Stacey Luftig), “My Heart is the Drum, “ was
selected for presentation at the 2013 National Alliance for Musical
Theatre Festival of New Musicals in New York City and Seattle’s Village
Theatre Festival of New Musicals in 2014. A workshop production was
produced at Ohio’s Kent State University Theatre in February 2015 and
Village Theatre produced the world premiere in March 2016. Ms.
Redling’s plays have been read or produced in theatres all over the
United States of America.
ABOUT THE POEM
“Scent” was published in Rockland County Arts Council, Rockland
County, new York. The poem was written in 2000 and revised in 2002 and
2003; thus, Ms. Redling considers it FINISHED IN 2003.

“The Little Gray Mouse” was first written in French in July 2011. Ms Wiess
the translated the first stanza into English. She worked back and forth
between the two languages as she developed the poem and finished it in
English. It was published in the Bagel Bards Anthlogy #7, a collection of
poems by Boston-area writers in May 2012
CONTEXT OF THE POEM
In both “Scent” and “the Little Gray Mouse,”
readers must discover the persona, the place where
the person/s is/are, and time frame of the incident.
The beauty of a poem is in its discovery.
 Scent
By Jennie S. Redling
My fingers
Stroke old artwork,
Program I designed once to
align myself with small theatre companies
where I, in fact, longed to act,
Frail now and filed away atop a closet
Unable to disengage, I’ ve
Allowed them life out of sight
But this morning I lightly breathe
The scent of sadness
And dread arising
Surprisingly from these leftovers
Of that forsaken
Time when I was
A glass blown to
A hair’s breadth
Aching for life to
Pervade me, or simply consolation
Failling to find
What sent me searching,
I swiftly press the pages,
Into their folder, to close tight again Against the bite of
Fresh, trenchant Memory.
EMPLOY
• Try writing your descriptive poem. Please follow the directions below.
Part1
1. Know the gender- male or female.
2. Identify the age range- child, teen, young adult , elderly.
3. Provide details on relevant activity-studying or working.
4. clarify the values that she or he considers to be important in life, and the
principles she or he adheres to.
5. Provide details on relationships.
6. Describe the physical appearance with as much details as possible.
“Thank You
For
Listening”