Poems - Pretty Ugly

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Today

“Pretty Ugly”

“Imaginary Friend”

Time to read: “Big Boy” p. 35

I’m very ugly

So don’t try to convince me that

I am a very beautiful person

Because at the end of the day

I hate myself in every single way

And I’m not going to lie to myself by saying

There is beauty inside of me that matters

So rest assured I will remind myself

That I am a worthless, terrible person

And nothing you say will make me believe

I still deserve love

Because no matter what

I am not good enough to be loved

And I am in no position to believe that

Beauty does exist within me

Because whenever I look in the mirror I always think

Am I as ugly as people say?

"Pretty Ugly"

1

This poem is a 'reversed poem'. What do you think this means?

Am I as ugly as people say?

Because whenever I look in the mirror I always think

Beauty does exist within me

And I am in no position to believe that

I am not good enough to be loved

Because no matter what

I still deserve love

And nothing you say will make me believe

That I am a worthless, terrible person

So rest assured I will remind myself

There is beauty inside of me that matters

And I’m not going to lie to myself by saying

I hate myself in every single way

Because at the end of the day

I am a very beautiful person

So don’t try to convince me that

I’m very ugly

"Pretty Ugly"

2

(1) What is the difference between version 1 & 2?
(2) Which version do you like best, and why?

My friend, Sherla, was hard to see

for Mom and Dad, not me.

My imaginary friend was all I had.

I’m an only child, you see.

Most times Sherla was really good.

We did puzzles, read, and played.

We made our beds and cleaned our room

ALMOST every single day.

But sometimes Sherla spilled my milk,

sometimes she wrote on walls,

sometimes she told me not to come

when Mom and Daddy called.

I had to have a talk with her

about being a naughty kid,

cause I’m the one who got time out

for all the things she did.

It’s different now, I go to school

and I have friends everywhere.

Sherla doesn’t come here now

and I thought I she didn’t care.

Mom told me Sherla’s ‘special’

cause only I could see,

but now she lives with someone else

who needs her more than me.

My imaginary friend

What's the name of the imaginary friend?

1. Anne
2. Susan
3. Sherla
4. Sophie

Why did Sherla go away

1. She had a fight with the writer of this poem
2. The parents didn't believe in Sherla
3. Another child needed Sherla more
4. Sherla moved to another country

Why do you think children have imaginary friends?

Why do you think only children have imaginary friends?

Your turn!

Homework Thursday 18/3

1. Read the story "Annabel Lee" (p. 10)

2. Underline / highlight words you don't know yet & look up its meaning