Disaster poetry

Background: This poem was written in response to a 2009 photo by the same title, by Noel Celis. The photo shows young children crossing a school year flooded by monsoon rains in the Philippines. The speaker carefully observes details in the image and reflects both on the children's experiences and on his own experience as a parent living far away, in the United States. 

Children Walk on Chairs to Cross a Flooded Schoolyard
Patrick Rosal
Taytay, Rizal Province, Philippines

1

In “Children Walk on Chairs…,” what has caused the schoolyard to be
flooded?

1

Cite two pairs of contrasting images that the poet uses to describe the
children in “Children Walk on Chairs….”

1

What do these contrasting images reveal about the way in which the speaker views children? Explain.

1

In “Children Walk on Chairs…,” what does the speaker remember doing
in America?

1

How are the children in “Children Walk on Chairs…” similar to and different from children in your own experience? Explain, citing clear reasons and specific examples.

1

In “Problems with Hurricanes,” what does the speaker say people should
beware of during a hurricane?

1

In “Problems with Hurricanes,” identify three examples of the
“beautiful sweet things” that the speaker says to beware of during a hurricane.

1

According to the speaker of “Problems with Hurricanes,” what is “the ultimate
disgrace”?

1

Identify the lines “Problems with Hurricanes” that are the words of the speaker not the campesino.

1

What mood, or feeling, is created by the contrast between the description
“beautiful sweet things” and the speaker’s warning?

1

What theme, or insight, does this contrast suggest? Explain.

1

Why might the speaker have chosen to share the campesino’s exact words? What does this choice suggest about the campesino? Explain.

1

Children Walk on Chairs to Cross a Flooded Schoolyard

In “Children Walk on Chairs…,” what has caused the schoolyard to beflooded?

Cite two pairs of contrasting images that the poet uses to describe thechildren in “Children Walk on Chairs….”

What do these contrasting images reveal about the way in which the speaker views children? Explain.

In “Children Walk on Chairs…,” what does the speaker remember doingin America?

How are the children in “Children Walk on Chairs…” similar to and different from children in your own experience? Explain, citing clear reasons and specific examples.

In “Problems with Hurricanes,” what does the speaker say people shouldbeware of during a hurricane?

In “Problems with Hurricanes,” identify three examples of the“beautiful sweet things” that the speaker says to beware of during a hurricane.

According to the speaker of “Problems with Hurricanes,” what is “the ultimatedisgrace”?

Identify the lines “Problems with Hurricanes” that are the words of the speaker not the campesino.

What mood, or feeling, is created by the contrast between the description“beautiful sweet things” and the speaker’s warning?

What theme, or insight, does this contrast suggest? Explain.

Why might the speaker have chosen to share the campesino’s exact words? What does this choice suggest about the campesino? Explain.

What have you learned about survival from reading these poems?

In “Children Walk on Chairs…,” what has caused the schoolyard to be
flooded?

Cite two pairs of contrasting images that the poet uses to describe the
children in “Children Walk on Chairs….”

In “Children Walk on Chairs…,” what does the speaker remember doing
in America?

In “Problems with Hurricanes,” what does the speaker say people should
beware of during a hurricane?

In “Problems with Hurricanes,” identify three examples of the
“beautiful sweet things” that the speaker says to beware of during a hurricane.

According to the speaker of “Problems with Hurricanes,” what is “the ultimate
disgrace”?

What mood, or feeling, is created by the contrast between the description
“beautiful sweet things” and the speaker’s warning?