If Poems
Read the following poem by Nikki Giovanni:
if you plant grain
you get fields of flour
if you plant seeds
you get grass…
i planted once
and a robin red breast flew
in my window
but a tom cat wouldn’t let it
stay
Nikki Giovanni
Read these examples of “If Poems” written by Dellview Elementary School third graders with Ms. D
if you run
you might sweat
if you run away
your mama will come find you
i ran away once
but i got lost
~
if you crush a brick
you get pebbles
if you crush an egg
you get scrambled eggs
i got crushed once
when my boyfriend broke my heart
Now finish these lines to make your own “if” poem. It should have three parts that are all connected and a surprise ending. Write it like Nikki Giovanni, without a title, capital letters, or punctuation.
if you
you
if you
you
i once
but
Extend your talent! Use any line in any poem from this page, even the one you just wrote, as the first line in a new poem and continue writing from there using the same format.
Teachers and parents: You are free to distribute and use this prompt with the following attribution: (c) d. ellis phelps, Young Writer’s Idea Box. Submit your student’s poem for publication on this blog via the “contact us” link.
d. ellis phelps is the author of Making Room for George, Moon Shadow Sanctuary Press, 2016.