This is my contribution to the NaPoWriMo poetry month blog with Magaly Guerrero.
The Birth of a Poet
After a tomboy recess,
with her head on her arms,
the teacher read the words
that made mad monkeys fly
and brought a Kansas girl
to bright, shiny, red shoes.
Standing in front of judges most dour,
fidgeting and breathless,
she cadenced words from
a poet long dead.
Filling the room with budding chestnuts
where a village blacksmith stood.
Blue ribboning came the year she spake
the Highway Man, come riding,
tlot-tloting with ribbons and lace,
black tresses and muskets fired.
She found her truth in rhythm and rhyme
and the delight of recitation.
In her eleventh year, she become one with
the words and their song.
Taking stanza and meter
and a #2 pencil,
she sang words to the paper
And, from her heart
a new poet was born.
If you would like to join in the fun, you can find us all here:
NaPoWriMo with Magaly Guerrero 2015
I know! I two was delighted with possibilities at that sweet age and time.
ReplyDeleteThank you for rekindling a wonderful time!
You worded a beautiful picture! xoDebi
Thank you, Debi! When I was going to school we had a scholastic competition between schools each year. I alway competed into the poetry recitation and picture memory, where we had to recognize pictures and their names and artists. I am always so glad I had that background provided for me.
DeleteI had to do poetry class at school too, we had to memorize poems and then got to the front of the class to recite them. At the time I hated it but age gives us the ability to break things down into parts. Looking back it was the being made to stand up in front of others to recite I hated, everything else about that class I loved, most especially the poems, many of which have stated with me over 40 years later. Your poem brought all that back Sharon, the heat of the classroom and the shuffling of papers but most of all the joy of finding yourself lost in words that sang. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOh! I LOVE the Highwayman! When I discovered it was made into a song it made my heart flutter.
ReplyDeleteAnd, who better than Loreena McKennitt to do it? Yes?
DeleteLove all the images that magically appeared reading this Sharon... Still hoping to join the 30 days (well some of them LOL)
ReplyDeleteI know, Shelle, daunting, right? My husband has two extra days off this week and I am trying to figure out how I am going to get the daily poems written with him around. Love him, but don't get too many of my things done when he is home. LOL Thank you so much for the kind words!
DeleteMy eyes were wide and expectant as soon as I saw "red shoes". I danced with the little girl and we sang poetry together. I love the rhythm or your song! ♥
ReplyDeleteShe was my favorite teacher. I will love her forever for opening the gates to Oz for me in third grade! I am so glad you danced! <3
DeleteThe first poem I ever memorized was The Highwayman! I was about 8, I think. I also devoured all the Oz books I could get my hands on. I love this Sharon. You take us back to those first moments of wonder so well.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Hedgewitch! We were lucky weren't we, those of us that were exposed so early to the Wonder bug. And, the Highwayman was so romantic!
DeleteGods bless all the teachers who brought us to Poetry.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the truth, Eliora! And, world literature, creative writing, drama, and music! I fear for the generations growing up since the arts have been removed from most school systems.
Deletesharon, you are so talented. it seems that every time you post here, it is something pertinent, and very touching. thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDelete~ kate
(for some reason, my profile is not linking from wordpress)
Thank you so much, Kate! I think we have all lived so many of these things and then, forgotten them. It is always good to remember the magic!
DeleteShivering with joy at the heart finding it's soulmate :D XXX
ReplyDeleteI am so glad it brought you joy, Gina!
DeleteOh you just had to put the Highwayman in something. I've posted that Youtube link so many times. Now I have to do so again. Another marvel, Lady Sharon
ReplyDeleteIt's a piece very close to my heart. When Loreena McKennitt recorded it, I had to have it. It certainly shaped a lot of my tastes in things from an early age!
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