Poetry Pass Prep

Midnight by Sara Holbrook

When it’s Sunday

and it’s midnight,

the weekend

put back in its chest,

5 the toys of recreation,

party times

and needed rest.

When I lie in wait

for Monday

10 to grab me by the ear,

throw me at the shower,

off to school

and when I hear

the train at midnight

15 from so many miles away...

when it’s Sunday . . .

and it’s midnight . . .

the train

in passing brays and boasts

20 it’s steel-track-straight,

on schedule, arrival times to keep.

And I meander to its rhythm,

flopping like a fish.

25 Why can’t I get to sleep?

Why can’t I get to sleep?

Question: How are the train and the speaker similar?

• Like the train that has a schedule to keep, the speaker has an approaching responsibility

• Like the train that brays and boasts, the speaker acts in an overly proud manner

• Like the train that travels at midnight, the speaker prefers to work during the night.

• Like the train that stays on a straight course, the speaker avoids change

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

Midnight by Sara Holbrook

When it’s Sunday

and it’s midnight,

the weekend

put back in its chest,

5 the toys of recreation,

party times

and needed rest.

When I lie in wait

for Monday

10 to grab me by the ear,

throw me at the shower,

off to school

and when I hear

the train at midnight

15 from so many miles away...

when it’s Sunday . . .

and it’s midnight . . .

the train

in passing brays and boasts

20 it’s steel-track-straight,

on schedule, arrival times to keep.

And I meander to its rhythm,

flopping like a fish.

25 Why can’t I get to sleep?

Why can’t I get to sleep?

Question: Which line from the poem best expresses the speaker's sense of dread?

• Line 2: and it's midnight,

• Line 7: and needed rest,

• Line 8: When I lie in wait..

• Line 15: from so many miles away...

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

Midnight by Sara Holbrook

When it’s Sunday

and it’s midnight,

the weekend

put back in its chest,

5 the toys of recreation,

party times

and needed rest.

When I lie in wait

for Monday

10 to grab me by the ear,

throw me at the shower,

off to school

and when I hear

the train at midnight

15 from so many miles away...

when it’s Sunday . . .

and it’s midnight . . .

the train

in passing brays and boasts

20 it’s steel-track-straight,

on schedule, arrival times to keep.

And I meander to its rhythm,

flopping like a fish.

25 Why can’t I get to sleep?

Why can’t I get to sleep?

Question: The metaphor in the first stanza is used to emphasize that the-

• Speaker believes like a small child on the weekend

• Speaker's weekend of fun and relaxation is over

• Speaker uses the weekend to organize things

• Speaker's time is wasted during the weeked

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

Midnight by Sara Holbrook

When it’s Sunday

and it’s midnight,

the weekend

put back in its chest,

5 the toys of recreation,

party times

and needed rest.

When I lie in wait

for Monday

10 to grab me by the ear,

throw me at the shower,

off to school

and when I hear

the train at midnight

15 from so many miles away...

when it’s Sunday . . .

and it’s midnight . . .

the train

in passing brays and boasts

20 it’s steel-track-straight,

on schedule, arrival times to keep.

And I meander to its rhythm,

flopping like a fish.

25 Why can’t I get to sleep?

Why can’t I get to sleep?

Question: The poet uses a simile in lines 23 and 24 to reveal that the speaker-

• wants to be outside

• cannot get comfortable

• does not like fishing

• might be having a dream

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

Midnight by Sara Holbrook

When it’s Sunday

and it’s midnight,

the weekend

put back in its chest,

5 the toys of recreation,

party times

and needed rest.

When I lie in wait

for Monday

10 to grab me by the ear,

throw me at the shower,

off to school

and when I hear

the train at midnight

15 from so many miles away...

when it’s Sunday . . .

and it’s midnight . . .

the train

in passing brays and boasts

20 it’s steel-track-straight,

on schedule, arrival times to keep.

And I meander to its rhythm,

flopping like a fish.

25 Why can’t I get to sleep?

Why can’t I get to sleep?

Question: Dividing the poem into two stanzas allows the poet to-

• Compare the speaker's schedule with the train's schedule

• Ask questions to keep the reader guessing about what will happen

• Contrast the speaker's feelings about weekends and Mondays

• Incorporate reminders for the reader about where the action takes place

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

Midnight by Sara Holbrook

When it’s Sunday

and it’s midnight,

the weekend

put back in its chest,

5 the toys of recreation,

party times

and needed rest.

When I lie in wait

for Monday

10 to grab me by the ear,

throw me at the shower,

off to school

and when I hear

the train at midnight

15 from so many miles away...

when it’s Sunday . . .

and it’s midnight . . .

the train

in passing brays and boasts

20 it’s steel-track-straight,

on schedule, arrival times to keep.

And I meander to its rhythm,

flopping like a fish.

25 Why can’t I get to sleep?

Why can’t I get to sleep?

Question: The train is important to the poem because it represents-

• reflecting on the past

• visiting distant places

• following a planned routine

• interrupting peaceful memories

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

Midnight by Sara Holbrook

When it’s Sunday

and it’s midnight,

the weekend

put back in its chest,

5 the toys of recreation,

party times

and needed rest.

When I lie in wait

for Monday

10 to grab me by the ear,

throw me at the shower,

off to school

and when I hear

the train at midnight

15 from so many miles away...

when it’s Sunday . . .

and it’s midnight . . .

the train

in passing brays and boasts

20 it’s steel-track-straight,

on schedule, arrival times to keep.

And I meander to its rhythm,

flopping like a fish.

25 Why can’t I get to sleep?

Why can’t I get to sleep?

Question: The poet likely intends for the last two lines to express the speaker's

• regret over the experiences of the weekend

• concern about doing well in school

• fear of the arriving train

• anxiety about the coming day

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5