Neruda Self-Portrait - EARLs Reading 1.2; Writing 1,3; Communication 2
Introduce students to Neruda's Self -portrait poem (Autoretrato - see
Resources). Have students make their own lists of self-characteristics
(appearance, passions, likes, dislikes, etc.). Have students edit their
pieces for word choice and imagery. Possible extension might be to take
a picture of each student and scan into a computer. Have students word
process their self-portrait and print out on top of their picture.
Por mi parte, soy o creo ser duro de nariz, minimo de ojos, escaso de
pelos en la cabeza, creciente de abdomen, largo de piernas, ancho de
suelas, amarillo de tez, generoso de amores, imposible de calculos,
confuso de palabras, tierno de manos, lento de andar, inoxidable de
corazon, aficionado a las estrellas, mareas, maremotos, admirador de
escarabajos, caminante de arenas, torpe de instituciones, chileno a
perpetuidad, amigo de mis amigos, mudo de enemigos, entrometido entre
pajaros, mal educado en casa, timido en los salones, arrepentido sin
objeto, horrendo administrador, navegante de boca, y yerbatero de la
tinta, discreto entre los animales, afortunado de nubarrones,
investigador en mercados, oscuro en las bibliotecas, melancolico en las
cordilleras, incansable en los bosques, lentisimo de contestaciones,
ocurrente anos despues, vulgar durante todo el ano, resplandecinte con
mi cuaderno, monumental de apetito, tigre para dormir, soseado en la
alegria, inspector del cielo nocturno, trabajador invisible, deso
rdenado, persistente, valiente por necesidad, cobarde sin pecado,
sonoliento de vocacion, amable de mujeres, activo por padecimiento,
poeta por malicion, y tonto de capirote.
In my opinion, I am or I believe I have a hard nose, tiny eyes,
scanttily haired, a swelling stomach, long leged, wide soled, a
jaundiced complexion, generous in love, difficult to figure, manipulator
of words, of tender hands, slow walker, untaintable heart, fond of
stars, tides, tidal waves, admired of black beetles, a stroller of
beaches, uncomfortable with institutions, forever Chilean, friend to my
friends, mute to my enemies, at home among birds, misbehave at home, shy
in the parlor, regretful without reason, horrendous administrator,
articulate, gourmet of words, discreet among animals, lover of storm
clouds, explorer of markets, transparent in libraries, melancholy in the
mountains, tireless in the forest, slow to answer, witty years too late,
vulgar all year long, splendorous in my writing, voracious appetite,
sound sleeper, calmed by joy, observer of the evening sky, dreamer by
profession, disorganized, persistent, brave when need be, shameless
coward, sleepy by vocation, friendly to women, moved by suffering,
damned to poetry and a foolish dunce.
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