“More people than ever are slowly but surely turning their ears toward poetry.” – Saul Williams
With a focus on sound and rhythm, two-voice poems are poems written to be read aloud by one or more readers in what is known as spoken word poetry.
The vibrant setting of a collective mural covered corner of Idaho called Freak Alley inspired a group of students to write bi-lingual spoken word poems based on the rhythms and cadences of the art and intersecting communities found there. In the video below, you’ll hear some of their ‘two-voice’ poetry and you’ll be asked to observe the cadences and intersections found at an outdoor space near you.
Writing “Sparks”
Spark from Boise State University Writing Project – Write a two-voiced spoken word poem inspired by the cadence, rhythm, beats, and intersections found at an outdoor space near you.
Content focus: Cadence in poetry/Spoken-word poetry Age-level recommendations: early writers, intermediate writers, advanced writers Time: 5:59
Cecilia Pattee and her students find inspiration in the art and intersecting communities surrounding Freak Alley of Boise and create bi-lingual, two-voice poems to capture the visual rhythms, cadences, and beats of this iconic outdoor space.
More About Spoken Word and Two Voice Poetry
Below are related resources gathered to further support inquiry and exploration of this topic. If you have additional resources to recommend, please share them online via the hashtag #writeout
Spoken Word explained: A “broad designation for poetry intended for performance” from the Poetry Foundation.
Poetry In Voice – Two Voice Poem Lesson Plan: A two-voice poem is written in two columns. Two students read the poem, and each chooses a column to read. When there are words that appear on the same line, the students read those words in unison (written for grades 8-10).
This video - designed as a three-part interview accompanied by writing prompts - focuses on the friendship and cultural sharing between Chief Red Cloud and homesteader James Cook of Agate Ranch.
What does it mean to study the students you are teaching? What ethical dilemmas arise, and how can we navigate these spaces in trustworthy, ethical ways?