Oral Interpretation: How do I Cut and Splice Poetry?

To LiveI sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it, with my paper and my penAnd I amSupposed to see The blackboardAround the tall boyAnd my mind on my Text and my pen onThe page.

But my headWon’t translateThis languageLog base b of a squaredCarbon monoxideReacting with phosphorus.I don’t react.

I see through the paperAnd my pen writesPoetic equationsMy mind plus my lifeEqualsSomething beyond this.

Doodles litter myNotebook like snowflakesDancing through the treesBeyond the window.

The lined paperLines with soulForgetting cosinesLife without phosphorusAnd my lifeBeyond desk chairsAnd the dull mutated hallsJV and VarsitySetting the curveSchool Play and GPATextbooksLearning without KnowingWithout roomTo know myselfTo be myselfTrial and errorMinus lab write-upFeelings withoutA thesisLearning youthLearning how to liveWithout a textbookWithout a teacher to Correct grammarTo live to learn myselfTo live to know myselfTo live to be somebody who’s learned how to live.

Miriam, age 18

SecretsDo you know my secret,Did I tell you it last night,Were you listening in my dreams,Were you hiding out of sight?

Do you look to find my secret,Reading letters, reading notes,Picking up sometimes on phone calls,Opening books to see what I wrote?

Do you really want to know my secret,Will it answer all your questionsTake away your mass of worries?Or maybe, you could ask for my suggestions.

Do you ever think to ask me about my secret,Being honest and forthright,With no lies or hidden feelings?Only then will my secret come to light.

Jessica, age 16

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Things I Have to Tell You

Structure Map

My NameDateBlock

StructureElement

Book / Page Number Brief Description

Exposition

Rising Action

Climax

Denouement / Conclusion

1. “Things I have to Tell You: Secrets,” by Jessica age 16

2. “Things I have to Tell You: To Live,” by Miriam age 18

To LiveI sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it, with my paper and my penAnd I amSupposed to see The blackboardAround the tall boyAnd my mind on my Text and my pen onThe page.

But my headWon’t translateThis languageLog base b of a squaredCarbon monoxideReacting with phosphorus.I don’t react.

I see through the paperAnd my pen writesPoetic equationsMy mind plus my lifeEqualsSomething beyond this.

Doodles litter myNotebook like snowflakesDancing through the treesBeyond the window.

The lined paperLines with soulForgetting cosinesLife without phosphorusAnd my lifeBeyond desk chairsAnd the dull mutated hallsJV and VarsitySetting the curveSchool Play and GPATextbooksLearning without KnowingWithout roomTo know myselfTo be myselfTrial and errorMinus lab write-upFeelings withoutA thesisLearning youthLearning how to liveWithout a textbookWithout a teacher to Correct grammarTo live to learn myselfTo live to know myselfTo live to be somebody who’s learned how to live.

Miriam, age 18

Step 1: Identify the Climax

SecretsDo you know my secret,Did I tell you it last night,Were you listening in my dreams,Were you hiding out of sight?

Do you look to find my secret,Reading letters, reading notes,Picking up sometimes on phone calls,Opening books to see what I wrote?

Do you really want to know my secret,Will it answer all your questionsTake away your mass of worries?Or maybe, you could ask for my suggestions.

Do you ever think to ask me about my secret,Being honest and forthright,With no lies or hidden feelings?Only then will my secret come to light.

Jessica, age 16

To LiveI sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it, with my paper and my penAnd I amSupposed to see The blackboardAround the tall boyAnd my mind on my Text and my pen onThe page.

But my headWon’t translateThis languageLog base b of a squaredCarbon monoxideReacting with phosphorus.I don’t react.

I see through the paperAnd my pen writesPoetic equationsMy mind plus my lifeEqualsSomething beyond this.

Doodles litter myNotebook like snowflakesDancing through the treesBeyond the window.

The lined paperLines with soulForgetting cosinesLife without phosphorusAnd my lifeBeyond desk chairsAnd the dull mutated hallsJV and VarsitySetting the curveSchool Play and GPATextbooksLearning without KnowingWithout roomTo know myselfTo be myselfTrial and errorMinus lab write-upFeelings withoutA thesisLearning youthLearning how to liveWithout a textbookWithout a teacher to Correct grammar

To live to learn myselfTo live to know myselfTo live to be somebody who’s learned how to live.

Miriam, age 18

Step 1: Identify the Climax

SecretsDo you know my secret,Did I tell you it last night,Were you listening in my dreams,Were you hiding out of sight?

Do you look to find my secret,Reading letters, reading notes,Picking up sometimes on phone calls,Opening books to see what I wrote?

Do you really want to know my secret,Will it answer all your questionsTake away your mass of worries?Or maybe, you could ask for my suggestions.

Do you ever think to ask me about my secret,Being honest and forthright,With no lies or hidden feelings?Only then will my secret come to light.

Jessica, age 16

Structure Map

My NameDateBlock

StructureElement

Book / Page Number Brief Description

Exposition

Rising Action

Climax

Poem 2, 4th stanza near the end

To live to Know/Learn/Be

section

Denouement / Conclusion

1. “Things I have to Tell You: Secrets,” by Jessica age 16

2. “Things I have to Tell You: To Live,” by Miriam age 18

To LiveI sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it, with my paper and my penAnd I amSupposed to see The blackboardAround the tall boyAnd my mind on my Text and my pen onThe page.

But my headWon’t translateThis languageLog base b of a squaredCarbon monoxideReacting with phosphorus.I don’t react.

I see through the paperAnd my pen writesPoetic equationsMy mind plus my lifeEqualsSomething beyond this.

Doodles litter myNotebook like snowflakesDancing through the treesBeyond the window.

The lined paperLines with soulForgetting cosinesLife without phosphorusAnd my lifeBeyond desk chairsAnd the dull mutated hallsJV and VarsitySetting the curveSchool Play and GPATextbooksLearning without KnowingWithout roomTo know myselfTo be myselfTrial and errorMinus lab write-upFeelings withoutA thesisLearning youthLearning how to liveWithout a textbookWithout a teacher to Correct grammarTo live to learn myselfTo live to know myselfTo live to be somebody who’s learned how to live.

Miriam, age 18

Step 2-3: Identify Contributing Storylines and Essential Circumstances

SecretsDo you know my secret,Did I tell you it last night,Were you listening in my dreams,Were you hiding out of sight?

Do you look to find my secret,Reading letters, reading notes,Picking up sometimes on phone calls,Opening books to see what I wrote?

Do you really want to know my secret,Will it answer all your questionsTake away your mass of worries?Or maybe, you could ask for my suggestions.

Do you ever think to ask me about my secret,Being honest and forthright,With no lies or hidden feelings?Only then will my secret come to light.

Jessica, age 16

Structure Map

My NameDateBlock

StructureElement

Book / Page Number Brief Description

ExpositionPoem 2, 1st stanza

In a school, In a desk

Rising Action

Climax

Poem 2, 4th stanza near the end

To live to Know/Learn/Be

section

Denouement / Conclusion

1. “Things I have to Tell You: Secrets,” by Jessica age 16

2. “Things I have to Tell You: To Live,” by Miriam age 18

To LiveI sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it, with my paper and my penAnd I amSupposed to see The blackboardAround the tall boyAnd my mind on my Text and my pen onThe page.

But my headWon’t translateThis language

Log base b of a squaredCarbon monoxideReacting with phosphorus.I don’t react.

I see through the paperAnd my pen writesPoetic equationsMy mind plus my lifeEqualsSomething beyond this.

Doodles litter myNotebook like snowflakesDancing through the treesBeyond the window.

The lined paperLines with soul

Forgetting cosinesLife without phosphorusAnd my lifeBeyond desk chairsAnd the dull mutated hallsJV and VarsitySetting the curveSchool Play and GPATextbooksLearning without KnowingWithout roomTo know myselfTo be myselfTrial and errorMinus lab write-upFeelings withoutA thesisLearning youthLearning how to liveWithout a textbookWithout a teacher to Correct grammarTo live to learn myselfTo live to know myselfTo live to be somebody who’s learned how to live.

Miriam, age 18

Step 4-5: Consider Character Development and Humor/Drama Balance

SecretsDo you know my secret,Did I tell you it last night,Were you listening in my dreams,Were you hiding out of sight?

Do you look to find my secret,

Reading letters, reading notes,Picking up sometimes on phone calls,Opening books to see what I wrote?

Do you really want to know my secret,Will it answer all your questionsTake away your mass of worries?Or maybe, you could ask for my suggestions.

Do you ever think to ask me about my secret,Being honest and forthright,With no lies or hidden feelings?Only then will my secret come to light.

Jessica, age 16

These two thoughts balance each other.

One could be delivered with

humor, while the other is more serious.

This could be funny or serious, depending on tone

of voice and physicality

Structure Map

My NameDateBlock

StructureElement

Book / Page Number Brief Description

ExpositionPoem 2, 1st stanza

In a school, In a desk

Rising Action

• Poem 1, 2nd and 3rd stanza

• Poem 2, stanza 2 and 4

•Showing her anger at being followed but not understood•She doesn’t like school, she wants to be more creative

ClimaxPoem 2, 4th stanza near

the endTo live to Know/Learn/Be

section

Denouement / Conclusion

Poem 2, last 3 lines Telling us what she really wants—to Live life more fully

1. “Things I have to Tell You: Secrets,” by Jessica age 16

2. “Things I have to Tell You: To Live,” by Miriam age 18

To LiveI sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it, with my paper and my penAnd I amSupposed to see The blackboardAround the tall boyAnd my mind on my Text and my pen onThe page.

But my headWon’t translateThis languageLog base b of a squaredCarbon monoxideReacting with phosphorus.I don’t react.

I see through the paperAnd my pen writesPoetic equationsMy mind plus my lifeEqualsSomething beyond this.

Doodles litter myNotebook like snowflakesDancing through the treesBeyond the window.

The lined paperLines with soulForgetting cosinesLife without phosphorusAnd my lifeBeyond desk chairsAnd the dull mutated hallsJV and VarsitySetting the curveSchool Play and GPATextbooksLearning without KnowingWithout roomTo know myselfTo be myselfTrial and errorMinus lab write-upFeelings withoutA thesisLearning youthLearning how to liveWithout a textbookWithout a teacher to Correct grammarTo live to learn myselfTo live to know myselfTo live to be somebody who’s learned how to live.

Miriam, age 18

Step 6: Cut and Substitute for Language and Content

SecretsDo you know my secret,Did I tell you it last night,Were you listening in my dreams,Were you hiding out of sight?

Do you look to find my secret,Reading letters, reading notes,Picking up sometimes on phone calls,Opening books to see what I wrote?

Do you really want to know my secret,Will it answer all your questionsTake away your mass of worries?Or maybe, you could ask for my suggestions.

Do you ever think to ask me about my secret,Being honest and forthright,With no lies or hidden feelings?Only then will my secret come to light.

Jessica, age 16

No Issues with Language or Content Completely School Appropriate

To LiveI sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it, with my paper and my penAnd I amSupposed to see The blackboardAround the tall boyAnd my mind on my Text and my pen onThe page.

But my headWon’t translateThis languageLog base b of a squaredCarbon monoxideReacting with phosphorus.I don’t react.

I see through the paperAnd my pen writesPoetic equationsMy mind plus my lifeEqualsSomething beyond this.

Doodles litter myNotebook like snowflakesDancing through the treesBeyond the window.

The lined paperLines with soulForgetting cosinesLife without phosphorusAnd my lifeBeyond desk chairs

And the dull mutated hallsJV and VarsitySetting the curveSchool Play and GPATextbooksLearning without KnowingWithout roomTo know myselfTo be myselfTrial and errorMinus lab write-upFeelings withoutA thesisLearning youthLearning how to liveWithout a textbookWithout a teacher to Correct grammarTo live to learn myselfTo live to know myselfTo live to be somebody who’s learned how to live.

Miriam, age 18

Step 6-8: Transitional Material, Arrangement and TIME

SecretsDo you know my secret,Did I tell you it last night,Were you listening in my dreams,Were you hiding out of sight?

Do you look to find my secret,Reading letters, reading notes,Picking up sometimes on phone calls,Opening books to see what I wrote?

Do you really want to know my secret,Will it answer all your questionsTake away your mass of worries?Or maybe, you could ask for my suggestions.

Do you ever think to ask me about my secret,Being honest and forthright,With no lies or hidden feelings?Only then will my secret come to light.

Jessica, age 16

Added for Emphasis:Or maybe, Maybe, MAYBE, you could ask for my suggestions

Transition from section to section

Cut for time

with my paper and my penAnd I amSupposed to see The blackboardAround the tall boyAnd my mind on my Text and my pen onThe page.

But my headWon’t translateThis languageLog base b of a squaredCarbon monoxideReacting with phosphorus.I don’t react.

I see through the paperAnd my pen writesPoetic equationsMy mind plus my lifeEqualsSomething beyond this.

Doodles litter myNotebook like snowflakesDancing through the treesBeyond the window.

The lined paperLines with soulForgetting cosinesLife without phosphorusAnd my lifeBeyond desk chairsAnd TextbooksLearning without KnowingWithout roomTo know myselfTo be myselfTrial and errorMinus lab write-upFeelings withoutA thesisLearning youthLearning how to liveWithout a textbookWithout a teacher to Correct grammarTo live to learn myselfTo live to know myselfTo live to be somebody who’s learned how to live.

Miriam, age 18

Putting it All Together: Splicing multiple selections

SecretsDo you know my secret,Did I tell you it last night,Were you listening in my dreams,Were you hiding out of sight?

Do you look to find my secret,Reading letters, reading notes,Picking up sometimes on phone calls,Opening books to see what I wrote?

Do you really want to know my secret,Will it answer all your questionsTake away your mass of worries?Or maybe, you could ask for my suggestions.

Do you ever think to ask me about my secret,Being honest and forthright,With no lies or hidden feelings?Only then will my secret come to light.

Jessica, age 16

To LiveI sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it,

1

2

3

A

B

C

TRANSITIONAL

Oral Interpretation

Do you know my secret,Did I tell you it last night,Were you listening in my dreams,Were you hiding out of sight?

Do you look to find my secret,Reading letters, reading notes,Picking up sometimes on phone calls,Opening books to see what I wrote?

Do you really want to know my secret,Will it answer all your questionsTake away your mass of worries?Or maybe, Maybe, MAYBE—you could ask for my suggestions.

To LiveI sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it,

12

Do you ever think to ask me about my secret,Being honest and forthright,With no lies or hidden feelings?Only then will my secret come to light.

Jessica, age 163

A

But my headWon’t translateThis languageLog base b of a squaredCarbon monoxideReacting with phosphorus.I don’t react.

I see through the paperAnd my pen writesPoetic equationsMy mind plus my lifeEqualsSomething beyond this.

B

Learning without KnowingWithout roomTo know myselfTo be myselfTrial and errorMinus lab write-upFeelings withoutA thesisLearning youthLearning how to liveWithout a textbookWithout a teacher to Correct grammarTo live to learn myselfTo live to know myselfTo live to be somebody who’s learned how to live.

D

with my paper and my penAnd I amSupposed to see The blackboardAround the tall boyAnd my mind on my Text and my pen onThe page.

I sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it,

TRANSITIONAL

I sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it,

TRANSITIONAL

Doodles litter myNotebook like snowflakesDancing through the treesBeyond the window.

The lined paperLines with soulForgetting cosinesLife without phosphorusAnd my lifeBeyond desk chairs

C

I sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it,

TRANSITIONAL

Performance Script: “Things I have to Tell You”

By: Various Authors

Do you really want to know my secret, Will it answer all your questions, Take away your mass of worries? Or maybe, Maybe, MAYBE—you could ask for my suggestions.

I sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it, and Doodles litter my Notebook like snowflakesDancing through the trees Beyond the window.

The lined paper--Lines with soulForgetting cosines--Life without phosphorus—And my life Beyond desk chairs

Do you ever think to ask me about my secret,Being honest and forthright,With no lies or hidden feelings?Only then will my secret come to light.

I sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it, Learning without KnowingWithout room --To know myself--To be myselfTrial and error --Minus lab write-upFeelings without--A thesisLearning youth.Learning how to live Without a textbookWithout a teacher to Correct grammarTo live to learn myselfTo live to know myselfTo live to be somebody who’s learned how --to live.

I sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it, with my paper and my penAnd I am Supposed to see The blackboard Around the tall boyAnd my mind on my Text and my pen on The page.

Do you know my secret, Did I tell you it last night,Were you listening in my dreams, Were you hiding out of sight?

Do you look to find my secret, Reading letters, reading notes, Picking up sometimes on phone calls,Opening books to see what I wrote?

I sit in my crunched-in restraining desk, they call it, But my headWon’t translate This languageLog base b of a squared Carbon monoxideReacting with phosphorus.I don’t react.

I see through the paper And my pen writesPoetic equationsMy mind plus my life EqualsSomething beyond this.

Oral Interpretation: How do I Cut and Splice Poetry?