“The poetry of earth is ceasing never.” – John Keats, 1816. 

Poetry is more than just words on a page—it’s a way of breathing life into emotions, ideas, and experiences in a creative and meaningful way. This term, our Class 8 students have dived into the world of poetry, exploring its beauty and depth through both reading and writing. 

Throughout the first few weeks of Term 1, students have examined poems from different cultures and historical contexts, uncovering the layers of meaning created through poetic techniques and broadening their own perspectives. They’ve learnt how tools like onomatopoeia (words that imitate sounds), alliteration (repeating the first letter of words), and sensory imagery (descriptions that engage the five senses) work together to bring poetry to life. Figurative language, rhythm, and rhyme have also played a key role in their learning, helping them understand how poets can craft vivid and powerful messages through language choices. 

A central theme of this unit has been humanity’s connection to nature. Through techniques like personification (giving human qualities to non-human things) and sensory imagery, students have explored how poetry can make nature feel alive and relatable. They have observed their own natural surroundings, recording the sights, sounds, and feelings evoked by everyday elements, for example, the earth, sun, rain, and shadows. This has deepened their appreciation for the natural world and its symbolic meanings. These symbols often have universal resonance – the earth to represent grounding and stability, the sun to represent optimism and happiness, the rain for both melancholy and renewal, and shadows for fears, challenges and hardships.    

Students have also experimented with different types of poetry, including haikus, limericks, sonnets, and free verse. They have readily embraced the challenging puzzle of creating patterns through rhythm and rhyme, using language to reflect their own thoughts and emotions. The results have been impressive—thoughtful, creative pieces that showcase their unique perspectives and growing confidence as poets. 

This unit has certainly enhanced students’ writing skills, but it has also encouraged them to see poetry as a powerful tool for self-expression and connection with the world around them.