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

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...

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

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

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

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

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