Speak Now, or Forever. Hold Your Peace.

Writing Workshop

Workshop Title: But Why?

Step 1

Watch the embedded video to give your students a bit of context behind the poem they are about to read.

Step 2

Read Patricia Smith’s “Speak Now, or Forever. Hold Your Peace.,” paying particular attention to the feelings she holds toward the people involved in the ceremony.

Step 3

Give them 5-10 minutes to develop their own list of happenings that they find particularly distasteful, disturbing, or insensitive, events that simply make them ask themselves, “But Why?”

Step 4

Tell the students to construct their own poem in the style of Smith’s, one in which they share their disgust toward something they find particularly revolting.

Step 5

When done, have the students share their responses.

The full presentation may be found HERE.

Analytical Lesson

Area of Focus: Sound Devices

Step 1

If your students are not familiar with the concept of “sound devices,” go through the introductory lesson.

Step 2

Watch the following video to give your students a bit of context behind the poem they are about to read.

Step 3

Read Patricia Smith’s “Speak Now, or Forever. Hold Your Peace.,” paying particular attention to the feelings she holds toward the people involved in the ceremony.

Step 4

Have the students work with a partner and briefly look through the poem and determine the “sound devices” that contribute to her attitude. Discuss. Then share the following sample paragraph.

Step 5

Tell the students to construct their own poem in the style of Smith’s, using sound devices to reflect their feelings of incredulity toward an event they find distasteful or insensitive. The students should work in the following document. Instructions are provided at the top of the page.

Step 6

When done, share their responses. If the students are looking for a more robust analysis of the piece, you may share the exemplar essay.