Today's prompt asks you to sift through memories of your past nine years of school.
Make a list.
Jot down 12 (I love that number!) images that come to mind when you think of grades K-now.
Of the memories on your list, which calls out to you as hot, deserving your attention and reflection?
A memory that came to my mind was about swear words. Here's what came of it when I tried to think about all my senses in as I experimented saying cuss words aloud in the privacy of my bedroom when I was maybe 10 or 12. (Lemon button is a type of fern.)
Lesson
Even shut-up was forbidden in our house
so of course I
wanted to cuss
I craved the razor
burning against my tongue
in the privacy of my
blue bedroom
where at the window
a macrame noose held
a flourishing lemon button
Mere words
sparked sensations
spicier than Doritios and
richer than cream
green as the fern
in my pink mouth
Math Class
ReplyDeleteEverybody says it's an important skill
But it's so boring so naturally
I didn't want to do it
I sought for this class to end
Since 6th grade
I sought to do other, more interesting stuff
Mere equations sparked a headache
Nothing I saw but paper and numbers
A nightmare to me this was
Blander than saltine crackers
More numbers than a mathmitican himself
"Blander than saltine crackers" was my favorite line!
DeletePatience
ReplyDeleteOne of the words
That I most heard
It meant slow down
Wait your turn
Distractions
Patience
I was told
It will help you later
But is being impatience ok
No no no
Always let someone go first
Be Patient
Patience
I could but wouldn’t
I should but couldn’t
Always when I need it least
Never where I need it most
Just be Patient
I like the contrasts in this poem as you struggle to be patient while burdened with impatience. Your final stanza really emphasizes the contrasts. Solid.
DeleteThe Giant Chair
ReplyDeleteDaily reading was always a competition,
but why?
Because of the big black lawn chair
in the back corner of Mr. Newberg's classroom.
It was a privilege to sit in that chair.
You were higher than the rest,
looking down upon the other kids
as they sat uncomfortably in their desks.
But once those minutes were up,
you return to same level as everyone else
and waited until it was your turn
to be the king or queen of the classroom again.
What a great memory! I can just picture the honor of that chair. Good regal imagery to drive it home in the last line.
DeleteSchool fairs
ReplyDeleteSchool fairs were
The highlight of elementary school
But why might you ask?
They're just full of junk
Because that junk was treasure
That turquoise whistle on a chain
Was like a chest filled with diamonds
Those purple vampire teeth
Were the highest luxury you could afford
And don’t get me started on
Anything that glowed in the dark
But what was so special about
A piece of plastic
That we would forget about
A week later?
Maybe it was the pride
Of winning it from musical chairs,
Or from a relay race,
Or even jumping roping
Maybe it was fun
That came out of that day
And in winning that small piece of plastic
It's your reminder of that free day
Or maybe, it was just that we were kids
Kids don’t care how much an item is worth
Kids don’t care about the quality of the item
All that kids care about it
Existing in the moment of it
Each stanza bursts with specific details that suck me right into your memory. Those purple vampire teeth! I love how you take me (your reader) into a larger idea at the close of the moment. Wonderful.
DeleteThe hot, sticky, mushy afternoons,
ReplyDeleteAlways came with a wind.
The trees gently blowing,
Animals nesting safe and sound,
In the little homes they made.
Everything at peace,
Even after the bell rang.
The noise filtering though the doors,
Blended in with mother nature,
As one of her own,
As it came and went,
Coming in the morning,
Leaving in the afternoons.