August - author unknown

Bare-Feet against warm sidewalks
The August night sheltered by a
    sheet of bloated clouds,
Blotting out the melting moon and
    Spattering of summer stars.

Stubbing down the street,
To buy and ice cream cone.
Anticipating
Licking salty lips
Glancing through the screen doors
    into limp living rooms,
Their TV's buzzing--
Answering the cricket chorus.

Holding a dime in sticky fingers
Holding a slice of the polar ice
    cap
A scoop of December
White and wonderful.

Hurrying home through the green-gray,
To the plop and plash of rain drops.

For discussion and exercise

Identify and discuss the various types of imagery used in this poem.  Notice how the author uses other techniques such as onomatopoeia, alliteration, metaphor, and diction to create the imagery and tone.

Below is a list of common objects and actions.  Use them as a base for creating some images and on another piece of paper, put a + or - for each according to whether you wanted a positive or negative response so you can check to see if you get the response you want.  Remember, you want try for images that are unique and appropriate -- unique in that the object or action may never have been described quite as you describe it, and appropriate in that it creates in your reader the emotional response you wanted.  When you are finished, have some friends read them to see if they react the way you wanted them to.