part of me

Part of me is always bright – the darkness never shown
Part of me’s a floating kite – I fly but I’m alone
Part of me is winter’s frost – the ice runs through my veins
Part of me’s fading, I’m lost – nothing inside remains
Part of me is teary – I let the river flow
Part of me is theory – there’s nothing I don’t know
Part of me is oh so sweet – your favourite dessert
Part of me’s unbreakable,
But most of me is hurt.

Part of me is a charade – all things aren’t what they seem
Part of me is a façade – my surface falsely gleams
Part of me you’ll never know – you see me in disguise
Part of me is all for show – It seems like I am wise
Part of me is bound in chains – I try, but can’t break free
Part of me has no real aims – can some one please help me?
Part of me’s oh so charming – some say that I’m a flirt
Part of me’s rather vengeful
But most of me is hurt.

Me

Part of me is Bad- Im the devil's little tool
Part of me is Sad- I always play the fool
Part of me's a Drunk- Wasted at sixteen
Part of me's a Punk- Life is just a dream
Part of me was Closed- I can't do that anymore
Part of me is Posed- Just another myspace whore
Part of me is pretty- Or maybe Im just vain
Parts of me I pity-
'cause most of me is Pain.

Part of me is Happy- But only for a while
Part of me is Chatty- Although sometimes that turns vile
Part of me is Craving- But not for what you think
Part of me is Wishing- Hoping I don't sink
Part of me's a Druggie- In need of another kick
Parts of me are Foggy- My mind likes to play tricks
Part of me is lifeless- Locked up with a chain
Part of me is careless-
But most of me is Pain.

Part of me is stupid- I never get it right
Part of me plays Cupid- I hate it when we fight
Part of me is Poetic- Most of my rhymes are in the bin
Part of me is Pathetic- I never seem to win
Part of me still loves you- That part always will
Part of me is Through- There is a hole you cannot fill
Part of me is Hate- don't call out my name
Part of me is Late-
But most of me is Pain.

Part of me is Crying- Mostly on the inside
Part of me is Dying- Swept away by the tide
Part of me is Sick- Twisted and obscene
Part of me's a Trick- Im not nice, Im mean
Part of me's Confused- What is the point to life?
Part of me feels used- It's a never-ending strife
Part of me has grown- But most parts are the same
Part of me has shown-
That most of me is Pain.

Parts of me...

Part of me is sociable - the lies just ebb and flow
Part of me's negotiable- though most times it's a NO
Part of me is grinning- though I'm partial to a frown
Part of me's beginning- I'm already slowing down
Part of me's a big head- I need to be deflated
Part of me's quite well read- though my knowledge's rather dated
Part of me protests too much- I'll argue til I die
Part of me doth prefer Hutch- cos Stiller's rather dry
Part of me is childlike- will I ever grow?
And part me has got a plan
But most of me's for show

Part of me likes fruit and veg- fried with a Mars Bar
Part of me's on the edge- dont look down its rather far
Part of me is academic- P.P.E , at Ox(ford)
Part of me's without a blemish- due to the Botox
Part of me does like to rock-though not the climbing kind
Part of wont watch the clock-I'm always left behind
Part of me is on my own- wont see me take the fall
Part of me will never groan - my patience will enthral
Part of me is syllopsism- sub- concious ebb and flow
And part of has criticism
but most of me's for show

PART of me

Part of me is really hype – I smile but do not laugh
Part of me is the nice type – that’s why I don’t have staff
Part of me is lonely – I have no friends at all
Part of me is only – only the one that’s tall
Part of me is success – I try but don’t achieve
Part of me is a mess – I don’t cry but I grieve
Part of me just wants love – but ends up getting hate
Part of me wants a glove – to hide a hand which holds fait

Part Of Me...

Part of me is dead-no pulse or warmth inside
part of me is unread-for that part i have cryed
part of me is broken-scattered pieces of abuse
part of me is a token-Null and Void and out of use
part of me is a bird-willing to soar away
part of me is unheard-just a voice without a say
part of me is beautiful-or so I like to think
part of me is mutual
But most of me is off the brink

Part of me is a Prisoner-no freedom or room to grow
part of me is lamb doner-whats in it?who the hell knows
part of me is humerous-a cover up for pain
part of me is curious-whats the secret behind the game?
part of me is high-laughing with all my friends
part of me is a lie-too broken to try and mend
part of me is being strong-before I give up and sink
part of me is a sad song
But most of me is off the brink

Me,Myself and I

Part of me is grateful-for all the things I’ve got

Part of me is hateful- for whom I’m naming not

Part of me is cheerful-I find happiness everywhere

Part of me is watchful

But most of me is elsewhere

Part of me is advisory- to all except I

Part of me is supervisory- with patience to the sky

Part of me is pretending-I’m in another sphere

Part of me is ascending

But most of me is elsewhere

Part of me is fighting –temptation and its friends

Part of me is writing – with all my lovely pens

Part of me is biased – I control what I see and hear

Part of me is focused

But most of me is elsewhere

It's me that is dead.

Part of me is going mad - I've lost all that is sane
Part of me is slightly sad - it's affecting my brain!
Part of me is confused - Don't know what's going on
Part of me is abused - Like hair in a salon
Part of me is full of fear - Wanting to run and hide
Part of me is feeling queer - A part I felt had lied
Part of me's breaking apart - Shattered into pieces
Part of me's feeling quite smart
But most of me is dead.

Part of me's a drama - just waiting for suspense
Part of me's like karma - Just all at your expense
Part of me is funny - Please just laugh at my jokes
Part of me's like honey - Yet sweet as raw egg yolks
Part of me's old dungarees - But recently just tore
And part of me's a shopping spree - unable to spend anymore
Part of me is crazy - Where's the sanity gone?
Part of me's just lazy
And most of me is dead.

Part of me is losing it - what has happened to me?
Part of me has just got it - a bit too hard to be
Part of me's just day dreaming - I like it better here
Part of me feels like screaming - is this so hard to hear?!
Part of me's like ice - Just touch me and you'll freeze
And part of me is nice - with power I can seize
Part of me's a bowling ball - forever rolling down
And part of me's a fresh fruit stall
But most of me is dead.

Part of me's defending - myself against the world
Part of me is ending - my life has just been hurled
Part of me's so quiet - You'll hear no sound at all
Part of me's a riot - Growing to be so tall

Part of me is jealous - I just want what you've got
Part of me's rebellious - Somehow, it makes me hot
Part of me's as loud as life - energetic and alive
Part of me's a puffy cloud - waiting for you to arrive
But most of me is dead.

Sentimental.

Part of me is dreaming-for one day in the light
Part of me is wanting-to study till the night
Part of me is wholesome-full of brain and thoughts
Part of me is lonesome-somehow too distraught
Part of me is timeless-watching yesterday
Part of me is lifeless-a soul that's gone astray
Part of me is hidden-behind a heart too gentle
Part of me's forbidden-
But most of me's sentimental.

Part of me is cold-like a tempest on it's way
Part of me unfolds-like one of Shakespeare's plays
Part of me is music-a bird that longs to sing
Part of me is hectic-an artist and her things
Part of me acts royal-one bossy boots at large
Part of me is loyal-I work at free of charge
Part of me remains-in each heart fundemental
Part of me complains-
But most of me's still sentimental.

Part of me's untrue-the lies they weave together
Part of me just knew-the guilt's unlike a feather
Part of me is great-everyone seems to know
Part of me is hate-the something that is 'so?'
Part of me deserves-the love I get day in
Part of me preserves-the love I get day out.
Parts of me believe-every day is crucial
Parts of me disbelieve..-
That I am sentimental.

part of me

part of me is accost-never pushed around
part of me is lost-looking to be found
part of me is a book-more than just a cover
part of me is took-but i ain't no ones lover
part of me is at its prime-top of my game
part of me is mime- and not seeking fame

part of me is here-virtual and hot

part of me is near

but most of me is not

part of me is musical-singing in the shower

part of me is simple-like soil to a flower

part of me is on fire-blazing shining bright

part of me wont tire- an will continue to fight

part of me is Einstein-big brains and great mind

part of me is a sunshine-obvious but hard to find

part of me is dull-and will probably be forgot

part of me is evil

but most of me is not

part of me is wasted-and not completely useful
part of me feels hated- but i don't want to be cruel
part of me is tense-waiting to be sprung
part of me has sense-awaiting in my lung
part of me is hidden-deep within the itself
part of me's a vilian-but only to myself
part of me is mental-am i losing the plot?
part of me is a temple
but most of me is not

part of me is fearless-Knievel in disguise
part of me is anxious-a belly full of flies
part of me is curious-to know what lies ahead
part of me is an old man-lying in his bed
part of me is crucial-to what i do not know
part of me is Google-whatever you need to know
part of me dreadful-like a itching spot
but all of me is thankful
that most of me is not

part of me

Part of me is lost-in this mad crazy world
Part of me is tossed-inside I am hurled
Part of me is forbid-from the hailstones of sin
Part of me is hid-inside my next of kin
Part of me is dead-waiting to point the blame
Part of me is ahead-of this soul waste bin
I am struggling
But I refuse all sin.

Part of me is dali- I’m utterly unique
Part of me is bashir- I have to go and leak
Part of me is Blair- I leave things in a mess
Part of me don’t care-but this you wouldn’t guess
Part of me is Kennedy- my legacy will live on
Part of me is Ingram-but id give it all to my kin
I am struggling
But I refuse all sin.

Part of me is waiting-for the ultimatum
Part of me is creating-gathering all the datum
Part of me is escaping-it doesn’t want to be here
Part of me is draping-I’ve lost all sense of steer
Part of me is rotten-waiting to hit the bin
I am struggling
But I refuse all sin.

Part of me is dealing-with the that I will die
Part of me is healing- I am not going to lie
Part of me is seeping- through the hands of faith
Part of me is weeping-I consider interfaith
Part of me is dreaming-that I will live on to tell
Part of me is meaning-to portray this life of a bin
I am struggling

But I refuse all sin

Part of me is searching - For something i cannot find
Part of me is lurching - Falling on my behind
Part of me is wary - A keen eye on my foes
Part of me's a fairy - twinkling on my toes
Part of me is evil - A devilish little girl
Part of me's a bean weevil - Just try and give me a hurl
Part of me melting - Like ice breathing fire
Part of me is total bling
But most of me's a tyre!

Parts of me are broken - Into little tiny pieces
Parts of me are unspoken - Yet confidence increases
Part of me is daring - Like breaking a rock rose
And part of me is caring - That, everyone knows!
Part of me is love - That which I have left to share
And part of me is a dove - flying around everywhere
Part of me is quiet - That part I admire
But part of me is a riot
And most of me's a tyre

Part of me is a fake - Not always being myself
Part of me is a cake - Rotting on the top shelf
Part of me is tired - Of feeling unloved
Part of me retired - When I lost my beloved
Parts of me are joyful - As hard as that may seem
Part of me's like a bull - Making people scream
Part of me has changed - Into a female white squire
Part of me's fully arranged
And most of me's made of tyre

Task 9: Part of me...

I am going to leave iambic pentameter for a few weeks now, but that does NOT mean you should all do so. Only a COUPLE of you have completely mastered it, and so the rest of you, however well you are doing and however hard you are working, will never do so unless you CONTINUE to PRACTISE. Even if you just try to write a couplet (in iambic pentameter) each day, it will gradually become easier and easier, and you will learn how to shift and alter words and syllables to make a line work.

So PLEASE do not stop writing iambic pentameter, even though the next task is something different. Mastering iambic pentameter is one of the MOST IMPORTANT English skills you can ever learn. Believe me. Keep persevering... :)

Right. On to Task 9...

* * * * * *

Step One

I would like you to read this week's Poem of the Week on the Fast Track Blog. This is a poem by the poet Matt Harvey, whom I saw performing in London last weekend. Read it carefully several times, and see if you can 'tune into' its rhythm and structure...

The basic structure of each stanza is as follows:
8 lines, each divided into 2 parts: a) (usually) 3 Feet; and b) (usually) 3 Feet. (Although he varies this sometimes, as can you.)
But the last of these lines, in each stanza, is separated on to two lines rather than one.

Most of the lines rhyme TWICE: the end of the first part of Line 1 rhymes with the end of the first part of Line 2; and the same goes for the end of the second part. So the rhyme scheme is kind of ab ab cd cd etc....

As for the FEET used (i.e. whether they are iambic, trochaic, anapestic, spondaic or whatever) you will notice there is some variety. But if you try and clap along to the poem, you will soon notice where the feet lie. If any of you are lucky enough to have a metronome at home, then use that instead; or if you have an electric keyboard, on which you can programme a simple, even beat, you could try reading in time to that instead.

This task (i.e. reading the poem out loud) will take you a good half an hour or MORE (if you are doing it properly). Don't be self-conscious - or hide away somewhere private if you are.

Step Two

When you have done Step One, ask someone else (family or friend) to read Matt Harvey's poem out loud to YOU. Listen carefully as they do so, and check to see if you can tune in to the rhythm correctly. And notice how in one stanza (deliberately, due to the subject matter) there are more lines than the others.

By now, you should have the rhythm clearly (and maybe even annoyingly) in your head. In which case you are ready to move on to...

Step Three

Part One of each line consists of a phrase beginning "Part of me is..."
Part Two of each line consists of a development of that idea; or an explanation; or an example.

The exception to this is the final couplet of each stanza, in which Part One is, as usual, a "Part of me is..." phrase. But Part Two is a motif - a repeated phrase which occurs throughout the poem and binds it all together: "But most of me is dreams". I know he adds an extra phrase in the very last line, but the idea is the same.

Look carefully at the poem and make sure you fully understand this structure. Because your success with Task 9 will DEPEND on it! :)

Step Four

Right. Now you understand the rhythm, rhyme and structure of the poem, it is time for you to draft your own. Matt Harvey's poem, as you will have realised, is about HIMSELF, and explores the many complicated (and sometimes contradictory) sides to his personality.

I would like you to write your own poem, following the same rhythm and structure as his, but about YOU and what makes YOU the person you are.

I don't mind how many stanzas you write (he wrote FIVE, but you can write anything between 2 and 6). But each stanza must*:

• have the same number of lines
• follow the same rhythm: 3 feet/3 feet (apart from the final couplet)
• follow the same rhyme scheme (for both parts of each line)
  
• follow the same structure: "Part of me..." + explanation/example/development
• finish with a motif repeated at the end of each stanza.

*I say "must", but you will soon realise that he (and I) have relaxed the rules every now and then, when we felt it necessary... :)

This is a very difficult task. Done properly, it will take you a long time. For that reason, I will give you TWO WEEKS to complete this task. I expect ALL of you to complete the task by Saturday 21st July.

As ever, this is MY attempt at the task. I've given it my own title, and you can do so too with yours:

Trying to Be

Part of me is getting lost - I look but cannot find
Part of me is tempest-tossed - and getting left behind
Part of me is wary - I find it hard to trust
Part of me is scary - and generates disgust
Part of me is so alone - without a friend at all
Part of me's on answerphone - and won't return your call
Part of me's dissolving - just watch me disappear
Part of me's evolving
But most of me is fear.

Part of me's a movie star - beloved of stage and screen
Part of me's a groovy car - in bright metallic green
Part of me demands you look - I put on quite a show
And part of me's a Sunday Times bestseller - don't you know
Part of me is there in lights - for everyone to see
And part of me has scaled the heights - I'm sure that you'll agree
Part of me is eminent - so easy to revere
But part of me just came and went
And most of me is fear.

Part of me is John and Paul - composing Abbey Road
But part of me is Oppenheimer - waiting to explode
Part of me is Spielberg - while imagining ET
But part of me is Schubert - his unfinished symphony
Part of me is Warhol - just not shocking any more
And part of me is Tolstoy - but much less peace than war
Part of me is Shakespeare - and foolish nuncle Lear
And part of me is nothing
But most of me is fear.

Part of me's pretending - I'm being someone else
Part of me is ending - the last one on the shelf
Part of me is giggling - but purely out of nerves
Part of me is wriggling - and gets what it deserves
Part of me is second best - and sadly past its prime
Part of me won't pass the test - I'm running out of time
Part of me has lost the fight - and cannot persevere
Part of me is not all right
And most of me is fear.