Monumental Verses

Bibliography

Lewis, J. Patrick. 2005. Monumental Verses. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. ISBN 978-0792271352.

Review

Monumental Verses is a creative and informative collection of poems by the 2011 Winner of the NCTE Excellence in Children’s Poetry Award, J. Patrick Lewis. The book celebrates famous monuments constructed throughout history. Some of the monuments include Stonehenge, the Statue of Liberty, and the Great Wall of China. Each monument is paired with an appropriate poetic form whether it is free verse, acrostic, or concrete poetry such as the “Great Pyramid of Cheops” written to form a pyramid shaped poem. Many of the poems follow an aba or abab rhyme scheme which will appeal to students. Dramatic photographs span the two page layout of each poem and create an authenticity that students will appreciate.

The brief facts presented in an introduction as well as in the poem themselves will encourage further research on the structures and appeal to teacher and students alike. The descriptive language highlights the beauty and wonderment of these manmade designs and encourages readers to appreciate the architetural art created by each monument. Lewis concludes the book with an epilogue to encourage readers to write their own poetry about a favorite monument as well as some more quick facts about the monuments represented.

Classroom/Library Connection

Recommended audience: elementary aged students

“Golden Gate Bridge” is an acrostic poem focusing on the color chosen for the bridge. Acrostic poetry is a non-intimidating way to introduce students to writing poetry.

Before reading: Type the poem to display on an interactive whiteboard or write it on chart paper, so students can see the words “international orange” spelled out.

During reading: Read the poem aloud to students.

Golden Gate Bridge

J. Patrick Lewis

If I had to choose a

Nifty color

To cover a whole bridge with,

Especially one that

Reminded me of a sunset

Neighborhood in a sunshine country

And made people think, Oh

That’s span-tastic, just right,

I wouldn’t choose black and white

Or yellow stripes—

Not polka dots either!—

Although such colors do look

Lovely on zebras, tigers, and Dalmatians.

Once I had stirred ten truckloads of

Red raspberries, I’d

Add a couple of tons of squeezed California

Nectarines, and hefty barrels of golden

Grape juice in the sweetest coat that

Ever bedazzled a bridge over a bay.  

After reading: Have students choose a crayon out of a large box of crayons and try to think of something that color that could be the subject of an acrostic poem. They can write their poems on chart paper to display throughout the library.