Exploring the Richness of Poetry in EDGE
I wonder how often we ask our girls big enough questions around the dinner table these days. In EDGE, we ask big questions every week! In Week 3, across the School, we focused on the life of Emily Dickinson, arguably one of history’s most recognisable poets using a positive female voice in her work. We have been studying the poem by Emily Dickinson called “Hope is the thing with feathers.”
So far, we have had rich and interesting group discussions about the poem from Reception to Year 9. One question I asked my Middle School students about this poem was, “What is the source of hope that drives your life?” I would encourage all of our School families to read this poem and discuss this with your daughters. As discussed with students, it is important to always know the answer to this question at an individual level and to also recognise that this can change throughout a person’s lifetime. I also discussed with students that it may be one of the most important questions an individual can ever answer for themselves.
In EDGE this term, we will continue to focus on local, national, and international female poets from classical periods to modern days. Students will be learning about different poetry and song lyric structures, themes, and audiences. They will also continue to construct an original poem about a female role model in their lives under the direct guidance of our School teaching team, including myself, Shelley Hampton, and Principal, Ms Cherylyn Skewes.
Dr Heather Taylor-Johnson and Dr Amelia Walker, visiting South Australian female poets, are also supporting our students during this process in our EDGE poetry incursions in Week 4. This work is challenging our students to go beyond the expected interpretation of poetry to establishing their own individual poetry and song lyric interpretations. This series is also focused on empowering EDGE students to deeply decode the purpose, values, and contexts of poems and song lyrics.
Rebecca Napier
EDGE Key Teacher Reception to Year 12
“Hope” is the thing with feathers
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.
Source: Poetry Foundation
