And though my head felt heavy,

I played on till dusk

Missing flies and pop-ups and grounders

And calling out in desperation things like

"Yours" and "take it," but doing all right,

Tugging at my cap in just the right way,

Crouching low, my feet set.

"Hum baby" sweetly on my lips.

-"How I Learned English,"

Gregory Djanikan

Write four to six sentences describing how the events of the poem take him from being an outsider to feeling accepted in his new community.

Answer: The boys first laughed at the mistakes he made, but they gradually started to like him. He started to enjoy their company, and was not upset by making mistakes.

Explanation:

In the poem "How I Learned English", the speaker describes how the boys from the new community initially laughed at his English. Eventually, he started to laugh, too. The boys found his speech and the way he pronounced certain words entertaining. Over the course of time, he started to feel comfortable in their company. He was not upset by his mistakes - instead, he laughed with his new friends.

The version with vivid language is more interesting. I can see the main character playing the game and hear him shouting. I can feel the pain in his forehead and the tugging at his cap. The language connects with my senses in a way that makes the story seem real.