Play Ada Limón's episode of Poetry Centered from when she introduces Lorna Dee Cervantes' poem "Crow" at 1:06 until Cervantes finishes reading the poem at 5:35. Ask students:
- What details did Limón include in her introduction that allowed her connection to the poem to feel personal?
- How did Limón's introduction provide listeners with an idea of the poem's key themes?
- How did Limón's introduction prepare listeners for the poem, as well as leave room for surprise?
After discussing Limón's introduction, students will be "podcast hosts" and introduce a poem of their choice. Ask students to search for a poem they like on Voca. Browsing options include searching by reader, tag, year, or simply by searching a keyword in the search bar on the home page.
Once students pick their poems, have them prepare a brief introduction for it. It does not have to be perfect or completely polished (Limón and other Poetry Centered hosts have lots of time to prepare remarks!), but include key reasons why they made their poem selection.
Share these prompts with students to help guide their intros:
- Why does the poem speak to you? Does it connect to a specific moment from your life?
- Do you like the way the poet reads it? Are their aspects of the poem like the word choices or imagery that you enjoyed?
- What would you want listeners to notice about this poem?
Conclude with having students share their introductions and then playing their poem selection.
