Late Harvest

I look up and see
a white buffalo
emerging from the
enormous red gates
of a cattle truck
lumbering into
the mouth of the sun.
The prairie chickens
do not seem to fear
me; neither do the
girls in cellophane
fields, near me, hear me
changing the flat tire
on my black tractor.
I consider screaming
to them; then, night comes.

--James Tate
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Have students read the poem a few times and then respond to it in their
journals. Allow students to share their responses and guide them in
expressing the feelings they experienced when reading the poem and the mood
that it evoked in them.

After this, ask students to write a poem doing the following:

1. Write a poem using the mood they talked about in their journal response.
2. The poem must be titled "Late _________________;" they fill in the blank.
3. They must use colors in their poem.
4. The poem should be ten lines or longer.
5. They must strive to produce at least one powerful image (Tate's poem
provides many; explain what an image is and have students pick an image out
of "Late Harvest.").

You'll be amazed at the things they write.