Prepositions and Phrasals -- Poems


1		Inspired by the Color Vowel® Chart. Learn More at http://www.Colorvowel.com
2		The Color Vowel Chart, Anchor Images and System were created by Karen Taylor and Shirley Thompson in 1999.
3		Since these pages are created in Google Sheets, the Blue Canoe browser add-on should work, here.
4		Note From Margaret R. Jones: Other teachers are welcome to use any of the rhymes or dialogs I've written. The pages are copyrighted just so someone else can't claim and copyright them! (I'd appreciate a "byline" if they get printed out.)
5
6		Giving Something Up
7		(Demonstrating the multi-part verb "To Give Up" as a metaphor.)
8
9		I surely did love coffee
10		More than decaf, pop or tea.
11		But caffeine, as my doctor says,
12		Is really bad for me.
13
14		I took the can out from my heart,
15		Held it h[i]gh and reached the sk[y]
16		Saying, "Now it's t[i]me for thIs to go
17		And [I] must say goodb[y]e."
18
19		I put the can up on a cloud
20		And watched it drift away.
21		I know I made the best, right choice
22		But I miss it to this day.
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25
26		Bringing Up a Subject & Taking Up a Problem
27		(Showing that multi-part verbs can be metaphors.)
28
29		The department had a problem
30		Weighing heavy on my m[i]nd.
31		I put it in a canvas sack;
32		Never left the thing beh[i]nd.
33
34		I brought it to the meeting;
35		Heaved it up onto the table.
36		My friend said, "Glad you brought this up
37		Since [I] just wasn't able!"
38
39		The boss said, "Take this up right now!
40		We can't just sit and drift!
41		All grab onto the edges, t[i]ght.
42		And one, two, three -- we lift!"
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45
46		The Old Mosaic Floor and Run-Down Path
47		(This was supposed to illustrate usage of the preposition "down" as a metphor in multi-part verbs. It ended up doing this but also incorporating many other metaphors.)
48
49		The rules of grammar pave my way
50		Throughout the rooms with grace and st[y]le,
51		Between the bookshelves, down the [ai]sle,
52		Familiar patterns g[ui]de my day.
53		Across the hall and out the door --
54		The colored t[i]les pour down the stairs.
55		A few are cracked; could use repairs.
56		I'll glue them down. Rev[i]se once more.
57
58		The paving stones across the lawn
59		Are rules laid down long, long ago.
60		In gentle arabesques they flow
61		With commas, quotes; they travel on;
62		With patterned grace the norms unfurl.
63		What would I do without this lane
64		That lets me cross the rough terrain
65		As I wr[i]te and dance and swirl and twirl?
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68
69		A Promo Held at the Airfield
70		(Featuring multi-part verbs with the preposition "up")
71
72		We set up a promo; came up with a plan;
73		Then drew up a contract; lined up a good man;
74		We picked up some actors; thought up a good show.
75		I woke up that morning; got dressed up to go.
76
77		The balloon was to fl[y], going up and away.
78		They held up the launch and were backed up all day!
79		You turned up at noon. We'd started up at eight!
80		Barb called up at three. She'd mixed up on the date.
81
82		No customers showed up.
83		"Wind up this broke-down bash!"
84		The boss blew up and yelled.
85		He'd put up all the cash.
86
87		ThenTed picked up the phone.
88		"We messed up on our ad!
89		Let's give up on this demo.
90		It truly is so bad!"
91
92		But things are looking up again. It ended up okay.
93		A limousine pulled up outside. It really made my day.
94		A billionaire got out and said, "I'm taking up your l[i]ne.
95		I got the chance to tr[y] them out. I love their great des[i]gn."
96
97		"I landed at the airfield in my pr[i]vate jet, you see.
98		I picked up all the p[i]les of stuff you gave away for free!
99		My staff all really l[i]ked them. They're perfect for our store.
100		I'll b[uy] up all you've got right now and keep on getting more."
101
102		The boss cheered up.
103		No one got f[i]red.
104		We all got rich.
105		And then we ret[i]red.
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108		© Copyright 2022, Margaret R. Jones