Double Entry Diary’s Section I-IV
“I Am” Poem Draft
I Am….Blackbeard
By Sarah Eisenhauer
I am the most ruthless pirate to ever live
I live on the Outer Banks of North Carolina
I wonder if there is even a match for me
I hear the screams and the sound of fighting as we board and take over ships
I see the opponents flag and then raise the same one myself
I want more pistals, more cutlasses
I am Edward Teach
I question whether or not someone will give me the chest of remedies in Charleston
I feel confident. They won’t let the hostages meet my fate
I touch my braided, coarse, black beard
I worry the Navy will capture my ship
I cry out to my crew not to try, don’t out run the Navy
I understand that I am trapped
I am infamous.
I say to not worry or outrun the Navy
I believe we can still win
I dream of the treasure that I will accrue
I try to steer the ship into th enarrow channel
I hope there is no need for the sand on board to soak up our blood
I was once the most feared privateer of the Caribbean
But now my story is history
I am Blackbeard.
I really like your poem! Very creative and fun!
I thought your poem was really great in the descriptive words and language that you chose to use, like the line “I touch my braided, coarse black beard.” I also really liked the ending of your poem, the second to last line “But now my story is history.” Great Job!
Sarah,
I really enjoyed reading your poem. It was interesting and made me want to keep reading. This was especially because some of the lines told a story. They explained themselves in subsequent lines. For example, you said,
“I question whether or not someone will give me the chest of remedies in Charleston.
I feel confident. They won’t let the hostages meet my fate.
I touch my braided, coarse, black beard.
I worry the Navy will capture my ship.
I cry out to my crew not to try, don’t out run the Navy.
I understand that I am trapped.
I am infamous.
I like how this entire stanza described a scene from Blackbeard’s life. It wasn’t just several lines that had no connection. They told a story which I believe is a great learning tool for students reading this poem. I know I would love to use it this way in my classroom. For instance, you could ask students to pick an event from Blackbeard’s life, such as his final defeat, and write an “I poem” solely on this topic. Great job incorporating factual information as well!
Heather Ensley
Very clever “I am Blackbeard” poem! I thought it was good that you incorporated his real name, Edward Teach, in the poem. It does not seem that he would have that name, but it is an interesting fact that’s for sure!