Write a short poem that uses the kind of "leaping image" that Bly uses in his poem and then read it to your class. Discuss whether or not the image is successful in evading a reader's cliché expectations without foreshadowing that evasion.

Write a parody of Bly's poem and then compose a short essay explaining how your poem is a parody. Hold a poetry slam in your class, competing to see whose parody is best.

Would Bly's poem be successful if he described emailing a letter as opposed to "snail mailing" one? Discuss in groups and report your findings to the class.

Research other "deep image" poets such as Louis Simpson, W. S. Merwin, and James Wright. How do they compare to Bly? Read representative poems of the poets and then have classmates vote on their favorite, defending their choices.

Make...