The Dragon's Playground
By Tania Brady.
The dragon's mouth opens wide
to let the children in. They stand,
and grin, gripping broken teeth -
no longer razor sharp -
(5) their rubber soles indented by
worn off fangs that must have eaten
a gazillion* of them by now,
but spat them out.
None are missing after all.
(10) Perhaps it is the taste?
it seems such a monstrous waste.
With teeth so white, shiny
golden hair and skin that glows
they'd be a delicacy-
(15) each fleshy morsel, plump pink limbs,
so young and fresh and ripe.
You'd think that the giant creature -
newly painted scaly aqua bright,
underbelly royal blue, floating
(20) on a sea of softening bark -
would snap its jaws shut tight
and steal them off
into a shadowy night, delighting in
treasured gulps of sweetness
(25) and light, with a bundle of
goodness in every bite?
One day it MIGHT.
*gazillion - informal word for "a large number"
QUESTIONS:
a.i) Identify ONE verbal language feature used to describe the children in lines 12-16 ("With teeth so white... fresh and ripe."). Give an example of this feature (A)
a.ii) Explain how the poet uses this language feature to describe the way the children appear in these lines (A/M/E)
b) Explain how the children's feelings about the dragon are revealed int he poem. Give examples to support your points. (A/M/E)
ANSWERS
(NCEA Level 1 English revision guide. 2009 edition, Really Useful Resources, pg. 33)
(NCEA Level 1 English revision guide. 2011 edition, Really Useful Resources, pg. 15)
The dragon's mouth opens wide
to let the children in. They stand,
and grin, gripping broken teeth -
no longer razor sharp -
(5) their rubber soles indented by
worn off fangs that must have eaten
a gazillion* of them by now,
but spat them out.
None are missing after all.
(10) Perhaps it is the taste?
it seems such a monstrous waste.
With teeth so white, shiny
golden hair and skin that glows
they'd be a delicacy-
(15) each fleshy morsel, plump pink limbs,
so young and fresh and ripe.
You'd think that the giant creature -
newly painted scaly aqua bright,
underbelly royal blue, floating
(20) on a sea of softening bark -
would snap its jaws shut tight
and steal them off
into a shadowy night, delighting in
treasured gulps of sweetness
(25) and light, with a bundle of
goodness in every bite?
One day it MIGHT.
*gazillion - informal word for "a large number"
QUESTIONS:
a.i) Identify ONE verbal language feature used to describe the children in lines 12-16 ("With teeth so white... fresh and ripe."). Give an example of this feature (A)
a.ii) Explain how the poet uses this language feature to describe the way the children appear in these lines (A/M/E)
b) Explain how the children's feelings about the dragon are revealed int he poem. Give examples to support your points. (A/M/E)
ANSWERS
(NCEA Level 1 English revision guide. 2009 edition, Really Useful Resources, pg. 33)
(NCEA Level 1 English revision guide. 2011 edition, Really Useful Resources, pg. 15)