Paper 1 Guidelines

10 Observations

This paper will model the exercise we did in class. You will make 10 observations about a poem.
You will then pick three of your observations and discuss how they impact/influence/shape the
poem and its meaning. Though this paper is somewhat nontraditional, you should still include
direct quotes from the poems as you discuss your observations.

Poem:
You should discuss “Evening” by Dorianne Laux. I’ve also pasted it at the bottom.

Observations:
The observations should be numbered from 1 to 10. Remember: these are observations and not
analysis. You are simply documenting what you see. You want to be specific in these
observations. For example, if you say a poet repeats three words over and over, you want to be
sure to tell what those words are. Much like you provide supporting details in a traditional
paper, you should do the same with your observations. Be specific and use complete sentences

Discussion:
You should pick three of your observations and think about how they each “serve” the poem
(i.e. Why are the lines short? What effect does internal rhyme have on the poem, etc.) It might
be helpful to list each observation and write 1 or 2 paragraphs discussing each one’s impact and
purpose in the poem. The discussions should also be supported with direct quotes.

Due Date:
The paper should be posted to Blackboard by midnight on 20 April. Late papers will receive
deductions per the syllabus.

Grading:
The paper will be assessed using the posted rubric.
Evening by Dorianne Laux

Moonlight pours down

without mercy, no matter
how many have perished
beneath the trees.

The river rolls on.

There will always be

silence, no matter
how long someone
has wept against
the side of a house,
bare forearms pressed
to the shingles.

Everything ends.
Even pain, even sorrow.

The swans drift on.

Reeds bear the weight

of their feathery heads.
Pebbles grow smaller,
smoother beneath night’s
rough currents. We walk

long distances, carting

our bags, our packages.
Burdens or gifts.

We know the land

is disappearing beneath
the sea, islands swallowed
like prehistoric fish.

We know we are doomed,

done for, damned, and still
the light reaches us, falls
on our shoulders even now,

even here where the moon is

hidden from us, even though
the stars are so far away.