Now that you have seen some techniques for creating vivid images with language, try to compose a poem or write a short descriptive paragraph using similes and colourful expressions. Work in pairs if you prefer. Then read it out to the class.

Choose one of these themes: waves, stars and moon, rocks, sunset or sunrise.

Consider the following for your chosen theme:

• What does it look like?

• What does it feel like?

• What does it sound like?

• How does it move?

• Where do we see it?

• When do we see it?

1. Sit in groups.

2. Look at your friend's face and describe what you see.
Use words like long, round, oval, slanted, sharp, flat to help you.
You can use other words also.
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________

3. What is your favourite fruit?Describe it in five sentences.

1. What are the things the wind does in the first stanza?

2. Have you seen anybody winnow grain at home or in a paddy field? What is the word in your language for winnowing? What do people use for winnowing? (Give words in your language if you know them.)

3. What does the poet say the wind god winnows?

4. What should we do to make friends with the wind?

5. What do the last four lines of the poem mean to you?

6. How does the poet speak to the wind—in anger or with humour? You must also have seen or heard of the wind “crumbling lives”. What is your response to this? Is it like the poet’s?

Have you ever visited or seen an elementary school in a slum? What does it look like?