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WHAT Is RED?
By Mary O’Neill

Red is a sunset
Blazing and bright.
Red is feeling brave
With all your might.
Red is a sunburn
Spot on your nose.
Sometimes red
Is a red red rose.
Red squiggles out
When you cut your hand.
Red is a brick
And the sound of a band.
Red is hotness
You get inside
When you're And when you're angry
embarrassed Red runs through your
And want to hide. head.
Fire-cracker, fire-engine Red is an Indian,
Fire flicker red - A Valentine heart.
The trimmings on
A circus cart.
Red is a lipstick
Red is a shout
Red is a signal
That says: "Watch out!"
Red is a great big
Rubber ball.
Red is the giantest
Colour of all.
Red is a show-off,
No doubt about it -
But can you imagine
Living without it?

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EXERCISE 1
Read the poem “What is Red?’ and fill in 13 things we can see in red in color.
All the words can be found in the poem.

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EXERCISE 2

Study the pictures below. Then choose phrases/sentences in the poem that
best describes each picture.

1. 2.

3. 4.

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EXERCISE 3

Replace each illustration in the passage below with a suitable word from
the poem.

In this poem, the persona talks about the colour red. He describes it

in various ways. It is the (1) which is bright and

blazing and sunburn on your (2) . It flows out when you cut

your (3) . It is a (4) and the sound made by a band.

It is the hotness you feel when you are embarrassed. Red is a

fire-cracker and a (5) .

Red runs through your (6) when you are angry. It is an

Indian and a Valentine (7) . It is also the decorations on a

circus (8) . It is a (9) . It is a shout and a signal to be

careful. It is a big rubber (10) . It is the greatest of all

the colours. It is also a show-off. But how can we live without it?

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EXERCISE 4

Read the poem 'What Is Red?' carefully and answer the following
questions.

1. Who wrote the poem?

__________________________________________________________

2. What type of poem is this?

__________________________________________________________

3. Why do you think the poet uses the adjectives 'blazing' and 'bright'
to describe the sunset? HOTS

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

4. What can happen to our skin if we stay out under the sun too long?

__________________________________________________________

5. What is said to happen if you have a slight cut on your hand?

Compare the situation if the cut is deep.

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

6. What are the three situations of feelings as mentioned by the

persona? Describe what happens in each of the situations.

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

7. Why do you think lipsticks are usually red in colour? HOTS

__________________________________________________________

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8. Explain the line, Red is a signal that says, "Watch out!" Why do you
think red is the colour used for such signals? HOTS

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

9. How does the persona describe the impact of the colour red?

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

10. Why does the persona asks the question ’But can you imagine
living without it?’

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

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References

1.Rohini Shanta & Racheal Anthony (2017)Light on Lit Form2, Malaysia

Sasbadi Sdn. Bhd

2.Christine Tan(2016) Selected Poems, Short Story and Drama Form 2,

Malaysia Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd

3. Special thanks to http://teachesthirdingeorgia.blogspot.com/ for the

awesome fonts.