Introducing the Poem

Literary Focus: Imagery and Allusion

Reading Focus: Visualizing

Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer

Same Song by Pat Mora

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Same Song by Pat Mora

How do images convey emotion and mood?

Click on the title to start the video.

Same Song Introducing the Poem

In this poem, the speaker observes the changing routines of her teenage children. Her young daughter now practices with makeup, and her son works to build muscles. Both dislike the results.

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Same Song Introducing the Poem

Imagery is language that appeals to the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

children’s chirping laughter

cast into the sparkling ruby waters

a path through velvet cloaks of moss

Same Song Literary Focus: Imagery and Allusion

An image helps you use your imagination to re-create a person, a scene, or an object.

• This is probably not quite the picture you see.

• When you hear the words red wheelbarrow, for example, you form a picture in your mind.

• Instead, your mental picture is probably in color.

Same Song Literary Focus: Imagery and Allusion

In “Same Song,” the speaker alludes—or makes an indirect reference—to a classic fairy tale.

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• Do you recognize the allusion?

Same Song Literary Focus: Imagery and Allusion

• What image does it form in your mind?

Mirror, mirror on the wall . . .

Poetry often contains images with startling details.

Same Song Reading Focus: Visualizing

a face cracked with time

ice cubes plunging to the bottom of a glass

sunlight through a yellow balloon

Your ability to visualize—to see in your mind—what you are reading makes your reading more compelling.

As you read a poem, take the time to

Same Song Reading Focus: Visualizing

• visualize the images

• experience the smells, sounds, tastes, and textures

Into Action

As you read, use a chart like the one below to keep track of the images in “Same Song.” Note both the images and the sense or senses to which they appeal.

Image Sense

“jogs a mile in the cold dark”

touch, sight

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Same Song Reading Focus: Visualizing

Find It in Your Reading

As you read, note the many active verbs Mora uses to describe the young people’s actions.

Same SongWriting Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer

• Consider what each teenager is trying to accomplish.

• Can you visualize their actions?

stumbles peers frowns

The End