Ode: dignified and elaborately structured lyric poem praising and glorifying an individual, commemorating an event, or describing nature intellectually rather than emotionally. Odes originally were songs performed to the accompaniment of a musical instrument.

Example:

An Ode to Jello

If I could eat Jell-O all day long,

I’d be a happy guy.

Living on Jell-O can't be wrong,

And without it I would cry .

I’d like to eat Jell-O throughout the day,

Over studying and straining my neck.

I’d like to get Jell-O as my pay,

Instead of a boring paycheck.

Jell-O has many forms-I love them all,

Especially when topped with cool-whip.

It can be made right at home or bought at the mall,

And there’s a recipe for jalepeno Jell-O chip dip.

Jell-O makes me happy, maybe like a drug,

Plain Jell-O-made in my sink.

But some add hooch to it, and make it a slug

Ironic, don’t you think?

I could eat Jell-O throughout the night,

I think Jell-O was in Mom’s womb.

A world with no Jell-O- there’s a fright.

That would bring imminent doom.

They say Vitamins are what you need,

If you don’t want to die.

Since Jell-O has few, I’m in trouble indeed,

And I wanted to say good-bye.

As I lay here, on my death bed,

I am a happy dude.

"Why?" you ask-"are you screwed in the head?"

Nope--Jell-O is Hospital food.

-Vance Lassey


another example is the ode to dr. seuss (http://www.efn.org/~dmaring/seuss.html)


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National Poetry Month (NPM) Lessons

Intro: http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/freestyle/17980.html

One (Haiku): http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/freestyle/17893.html

Two (Iambic Pentameter): http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/freestyle/17940.html

Three (Tanka): http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/freestyle/17960.html

Four (Villanelle): http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/freestyle/18000.html

Five (Limerick):
http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/freestyle/18031.html

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