What+Are+Poems+For?++Why+Do+Poets+Write?

Read the lyrics to Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind,” Langston Hughes's, "I, Too", and Tupac Shakur's "Lady Liberty Needs Glasses."

Notice how these very different poems share common messages, images, and author's/poet's tools.

Go to Bubbl.us. Create a concept map on the website. Use different colors to show ideas from each of the three sources. Show messages, images, tools that connecting each poem to the other two poems. When you are done, email the concept map to ewright@westwood.k12.ma.us. If you prefer, you can draw the concept map on paper.

media type="youtube" key="0UjsXo9l6I8" height="345" width="420"Lyrics: "Empire State of Mind"

I, too, sing America.
 * “I, Too” **
 * Langston Hughes **

I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.

Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then.

Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed-

I, too, am America.

“Lady Liberty Needs Glasses” Tupac Shakur

excuse me but lady liberty needs glasses and so does mrs justice by her side both the broads r blind as bats stumbling thru the system justice bumbed into mutulu and trippin on geronimo pratt but stepped right over oliver and his crooked partner ronnie justice stubbed her big toe on mandela and liberty was misquoted by the indians slavery was a learning phase forgotten without a verdict while justice is on a rampage 4 endangered surviving black males i mean really if anyone really valued life and cared about the masses theyd take em both 2 pen optical and get 2 pair of glasses