Activity 7: Poem Analysis Read the poem below, and then answer the questions that follow. Speechless Kyra Lee My name Is Sasha My sister is Leigh I am six And she is three Our dad's always mad He screams and he yells I don't think he likes us It's easy to tell Mum's only kind When dad's not around And when he is home She hardly makes a sound Mum's always out, Never home Dad's always drunk, And always alone As soon as we hear Those jingly keys We run and hide We run and plea We find a place And curl up tight I hold her hand And she holds mine And soon enough Dad then walks in Don't make a sound, don't say a word I pray inside, deep within But Leigh, she cannot help herself For the pain is just too much "O-God" she yells "Why are you so mean?" He doesn't like what she has said And beats her even more And with one last hit. Hard and strong, he pulls away and watches She takes one last gasp of air Our hands still holding Then falls to the ground where I sat And doesn't move a muscle I stare at him My eyes so blue He looks at me And yells "O you!" "How dare you Make me so mad This is all your fault Go cry be sad!" My name is Sasha My sister is Leigh I am six And my beautiful sist was only three That day my Daddy Murdered her My best friend She was my world We stuck together Through thick and th But now she's gone I'm lost within When I was six my sis three My Daddy murdered Leigh Since that day I have spoke For it's speaking that made her die. Guide Questions 1. What is the poem all about? Summarize the story of the poem. 2. What did you feel after reading the poem? Why? 3. Could this really have happened? Why? 392
Answer (1)
Answer:Poem Analysis – "Speechless" by Kyra Lee1. What is the poem all about? Summarize the story of the poem.The poem tells the tragic story of a young girl, Sasha, and her little sister, Leigh, who suffer from domestic abuse at the hands of their father. Their mother remains silent, possibly out of fear. The sisters often hide when their father comes home drunk, but one day, Leigh cries out in pain. This enrages their father, who beats her until she dies. Sasha, devastated by her sister's death, is blamed by her father. She becomes speechless from that day forward, believing that speaking is what led to her sister’s death. 2. What did you feel after reading the poem? Why?The poem evokes feelings of sadness, anger, and helplessness. It is heartbreaking to read about children suffering from abuse, especially when they have no one to protect them. Leigh’s tragic death and Sasha’s silence highlight the devastating effects of domestic violence, making the reader feel deep sorrow and frustration over the injustice. 3. Could this really have happened? Why?Yes, unfortunately, this could be a real situation. Domestic violence is a serious issue that affects many children and families around the world. Cases of child abuse and neglect often go unnoticed until it is too late. The poem sheds light on the painful reality of some children who suffer in silence due to fear and helplessness.
