| In a previous article, "A Perfect English Writing | | | | tastesand aguardiente-filled friends"o The first stanza |
| Lesson", we looked at writing exercises which | | | | (poem paragraph) has a mixed rhyming pattern of |
| promoted production of authentic language in English | | | | AABBA where the first and second lines rhyme, the |
| as a foreign language (EFL) learners. An alternate | | | | third and fourth lines rhyme and the last (fifth) line |
| writing exercise consisting of writing a poem about | | | | rhymes with the first and second lines. |
| the city, region or country where the learner lives | | | | The Cali Festival is held for ten days, from December |
| was also broached. | | | | 22nd to January 2nd. "Gringos" refers to the |
| The following poem was an example. | | | | predominance of North American visitors to Colombia |
| "The Feria de Cali" | | | | with Cali generally being referred to as the "Capital of |
| Waves of December heatare here to meet and | | | | Salsa music". Beauty pageants are held throughout |
| greetthose "Gringos" who dareour Feria to | | | | most of Colombia's 32 departments prior to the |
| share,while dancing to a Salsa beat. | | | | November crowning of "Miss Colombia". Beauty |
| Parades of slender, bronzed beauties abound,as | | | | Queens then reign over a variety of events for the |
| classic antique cars are found | | | | ensuing year. Miss Valle del Cauca presides over the |
| In ten days the Feria endswith sugar cane sweet | | | | festivities during Cali's Festival and those of other |
| tastesand aguardiente-filled friends | | | | towns in this department. |
| You'll sadly leave less heavythan a pink and green '57 | | | | The region around Cali is known for its sugar cane |
| Chevy. | | | | fields. The juice from sugar cane is used to produce |
| Admittedly, Shakespeare it's not, but the poetry | | | | a clear, rum distillate called "aguardiente" or "hard |
| writing process worked for the learners. | | | | water". It takes notoriously little of this strong liquor |
| This poem is actually more insightful that it first | | | | to intoxicate even the sturdiest of souls. Finally, due |
| appears though. It is based on featured activities of | | | | to the free-flowing food and liquor most people pack |
| the annual Cali Festival held in Cali, Colombia. | | | | on not less than a few "unwanted" pounds during the |
| Stanza Types | | | | festival season. |
| The stanzas shift between three verse grouping | | | | If you'd like to brush up just a bit on your poetry |
| types.o Couplet - two lines that rhyme one after the | | | | writing skills, please see the two additional articles, |
| other, as in this excerpt: | | | | "How to Evoke Imagery, Emotions and Ideas in |
| "Parades of slender, bronzed beauties abound,as | | | | Writing Poetry That Captures Your Readers |
| classic antique cars are found"o Tercet - three lines | | | | Imagination2 and "How to Write Poems That Capture |
| that can rhyme in different ways as in this excerpt: | | | | the Heart and Imagination of Your Readers" to help |
| "In ten days the Feria endswith sugar cane sweet | | | | get you and your English language learners started. |