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Poetry Response Journal Worksheet

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Poetry Response Journal Worksheet

Read the original poem below twice. First, notice the scene and mood. Then annotate the poem and answer the questions using evidence from its words. There are no single correct personal reactions, but explain your thinking.

At the Volcano Observatory

Ari watches the mountain breathe,\na silver thread against the night.\nThe instruments blink: green, then green—\nsmall stars that measure hidden heat.\n\nLosa writes the numbers down.\nOutside, rain rattles on the roof.\nThe mountain keeps its ancient hush;\nbeneath it, restless rivers move.\n\nAt dawn, the clouds unfasten.\nA red line opens in the sky.\nNo warning siren breaks the quiet;\nthe day begins, and so do they.

Read closely

Use short quotations and explain how the poet’s choices shape meaning. You may mark the poem itself before answering.

1.In your own words, describe what Ari and Losa are doing. Include one detail that shows where or when the scene takes place.

2.Which line most strongly suggests that the mountain is active even though it appears quiet? Choose one and explain the clue in its wording.

3.Identify the poetic device in “The mountain keeps its ancient hush”. Explain what this description makes the mountain seem like.

4.Find an example of alliteration in the poem. Quote it and comment on the sound or effect it creates.

5.The instruments blink “green, then green”. What does the repetition emphasise, and how does it contrast with the mountain?

6.Choose the best description of the poem’s mood overall, then support your choice with a quotation.

Playful and carefree
Quiet but slightly tense
Angry and confrontational
Celebratory and triumphant

7.What changes in the final stanza? Explain how “A red line opens in the sky” contributes to the shift.

8.Which interpretation of “No warning siren breaks the quiet” is best supported by the poem?

The observatory has no siren.
The mountain is confirmed to be harmless.
The scene remains quiet, but monitoring and uncertainty still matter.
Ari and Losa have fallen asleep.

9.Which image or phrase stayed with you most? Quote it and explain what it makes you picture, hear or feel. Your response can differ from another reader’s.

10.What question would you ask the poet about a choice in this poem? Name the choice and explain why you are curious about it.

11.Write a brief response explaining how the poem balances calm and danger. Use two quotations and explain what each contributes.

12.Complete your reader’s journal reflection: What is one idea you will carry away from this poem, and one thing you want to notice more carefully in your next poetry response?