Titles Station Reflection

Poem, by Langston Hughes

I loved my friend.

He went away from me.

There’s nothing more to say.

The poem ends,

Soft as it began—

I loved my friend. 

                                 Foghorns, by Lilian Moore

The foghorns moaned

           In the bay last night

so sad

so deep

I thought I heard the city

           crying in its sleep.

Suspense, by Debra Chandra

Wide-eyed

the sunflowers

stare and catch their summer

breath, while I pause, holding basket

and shears.

"Keepsake” by Eloise Greenfield    
Before Ms. Williams died
She told Mr. Williams
When he gets home
To get a nickel out of her
Navy blue pocket book
And give it to her
Sweet little gingerbread girl
That's me
I ain't never going to spend it

This Is Just to Say, by W. C. Williams

I have eaten

the plums

that were in

the icebox

and which

you were probably

saving

for breakfast

Forgive me

they were delicious

so sweet

and so cold

What are two ways that titles can contribute to the meaning of poems? Give an example for each way using a specific poem we read.
1. Titles can give us an idea of what a poem is about, explain it. 
"Keepsake” by Eloise Greenfield    
Before Ms. Williams died
She told Mr. Williams
When he gets home
To get a nickel out of her
Navy blue pocket book
And give it to her
Sweet little gingerbread girl
That's me
I ain't never going to spend it

2. Titles can also be less obvious, give the poem a double meaning.

Poem, by Langston Hughes

I loved my friend.

He went away from me.

There’s nothing more to say.

The poem ends,

Soft as it began—

I loved my friend.   

How purposefully are you using titles in your own poems?

I'm not using titles very well. I have a hard time coming up with a good title. I need more practice in naming my poems.