Chicago - Lesson 4.01:
Poetry

Narrative Poetry

A narrative poem is simply a poem that has a plot.  Narrative poems tell a story through a conflict, rising action, a climax and a resolution.

Perhaps the most famous narrative poem about baseball is the poem "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest Thayer.  This poem was written in 1885 and instantly became famous when the author read it on a radio broadcast.

Since this poem is a narrative poem, it has a clear plot embedded within the poem.  Read this interesting poem and respond in the 4.01 Casey at the Bat Discussion section naming the conflict of the poem, the rising action, the climax and the resolution.

Free Verse Poetry

The second type poetry we will examine in this lesson is free verse poetry.   Free verse poems are free from the constraints of rhyme, meter patterns or other elements of form.  Because of this, free verse poetry has no boundaries, and the author has total control over the development of the poem.

Robert Francis wrote a free verse poem about baseball called "The Base Stealer."  This poem doesn't have a rhyme pattern or a plot, but it does clearly paint a word picture of what it is like to watch a player steal a base.

Take a moment and read "The Base Stealer" by Robert Francis.  In this poem, the author uses similes to compare the base stealer to different objects.  The poet also uses unique verbs to describe the base stealer's motions.  After reading the poem, go to the 4.01 'The Base Stealer' Discussion and post a comment describing one of the similes used and some of the unique verbs used to help the reader visualize the base stealer in action.

Limericks

Limericks are humorous poems that follow a specific 5 line organization with a strict rhyme scheme.  Take a moment are read these limericks about baseball.

Don Mattingly
Up to the plate stepped Mattingly
Twirling his bat enchantingly
If hitting is an art
Then Don was a Mozart
Or maybe a Rembrandt, you see

World Series
The World Series game one is tonight
Which promises to be quite a fight.
For the Giants to thrill
It'll take all their skill
And a small dose of Texas stage fright.

Fall Weather Baseball
With the World Series set to enthrall,
The weather is most certainly Fall.
For all of the fans
Who sit in the stands
It's always the coldest baseball.

Notice that the limericks listed here follow a specific pattern. 

• First, all limericks have 5 lines. 
• The first, second, and fifth lines all rhyme with each other. 
• The third and forth lines rhyme also.
• The first, second and fifth lines all have this rhythm pattern:  da DUM da da DUM da da DUM – For example, say, "There once was a fellow named Jay" out loud. Now say, "da DUM da da DUM da da DUM" out loud. Notice that both have the same rhythm.

The third and fourth lines have this rhythm pattern: da DUM da da DUM – For example, say, "He fell off the boat" out loud. Now say "da DUM da da DUM" out loud. Notice that both have the same rhythm.