A song poem uses the rhythm and music of an already existing song to inspire the lyrics of a new poem; a real songwriter may also write the music as he writes the words.

The key to writing a song poem is selecting a song whose music fits the mood and rhythm of the poet's intended purpose.  For example, you wouldn't want to pick REM's "Shiny Happy People" or Ricky Martin's "Livin' in la Vida Loca" as the inspiration for your poem about Night:  The bright, happy music of these songs would not fit the dark images inspired by the title Night.   The music of Nine Inch Nails, Metallica, or DMX might fit better.

This is a link to a song poem (a really bad one, I"m sure, in your eyes) that displays the lyrics and plays the music in the background.   See if you can match the words to the music's rhythm:

• Dave Roddick's song poem "Wakin' Up Is Hard to Do" written to the song "Breakin' Up Is Hard to Do" originally by Neil Sedaka.

Remember:  Your rubric for your poem stresses your incorporation of imagery and the poem's communication of why the book Night has its title.

Now you've got to go back and write a poem!