4.3 Writer's Workshop - Spoken Word Poem and Critical Thinking Essay
Can you...
Writer's Notebook 2: I Lost My Talk
In this workshop, you will apply your "Critical Thinking Competencies" to analyze evidence, gather information, and make choices for your essay based on Rita Joe's poem, I Lost my Talk", and the related Rita Joe National Song Project.
This poem by Rita Joe has inspired young Canadians to find their voices. Based on the words in the poem, who do you think Rita Joe might be? What is the gist? Who is the "you" in the poem?
I Lost My Talk
by Rita Joe
I lost my talk
The talk you took away.
When I was a little girl
At Shubenacadie school.
You snatched it away:
I speak like you
I think like you
I create like you
The scrambled ballad, about my word.
Two ways I talk
Both ways I say,
Your way is more powerful.
So gently I offer my hand and ask,
Let me find my talk
So I can teach you about me.
(Source: https://nac-cna.ca/en/ritajoesong)
Can you predict anything about the author and what the message may really be?