A MASTER OF POETRY

                                                              Loving Words

Every week when I decide what to write about I look over many friend’s writings.   Some from the newspaper, others from articles in local magazines and a shared typewritten piece that close friends want me to read.  All writings so very different, yet equally as good in their messaging. 

Leon and I went to Warren for lunch at this new restaurant.  I was up at the counter ordering a great juicy hamburger when this gal came up and said, “Barb!   Is that you?”   Oh, my gosh!   There stood a friend that worked in Once a Tree, a shop in Camden.   I haven’t seen her in forever and became absolutely delighted to catch a chance to talk with her.

She was my height, a long narrow nose, brownish hair, much thinner than I and one beautiful smile showing as we hugged again.   “It’s so good to see you” were excited thoughts that came out of her mouth.

When we last saw each other I had purchased her slim homemade paperback book of poetry, which is sitting on my bedstead, referring to often when writing my blog pieces.   We made plans to get together when more time was available.

All the way home I talked to Leon about writing poetry for diversion in some my weekly pieces of shared stories.   Then thoughts appeared about teaching sixth graders how to make up their own poems, which I found to be a somewhat difficult task because I wasn’t sure myself how to do this.

We looked through a mass of poetry books, studying the poems, taking them apart and capturing the meaning of each.   Attempting to write our own quickly became a happening.   Jotting down some experiences we faced during the week and expressing them in simple poems.   I was always so grateful that there were good writers.  Work could be looked at, shared, with some learning taking place.

Move ahead 20 years and I find a Maine neighbor girl, Hannah, writing such poems.   I was so blown away as her writings won the student contest of the 2012 Poetry Society of New Hampshire.   Her book entitled Piano Notes on Pavement were purchased and distributed to Dallas and Maine friends.   I gave her writings to all the area public libraries along with copies distributed to the schools.    They served as gifts for many.    

One of her poems that became my favorite is:

                      Wardrobe Change
Trees change from their bright green attire
To burgundy, crimson, and scarlet
Mums transition into their fluffy mauve dresses
Grass blades jump into new bronzed pantsuits
Apples replace their emerald coverings
With golden, maroon, and jade ones
Corn swaps its lime green shawls
for fresh russet coats

The fashion show beings. 

WOW!   Personification at its finest is shared in this piece of writing.   Can you even believe a 5th grader wrote that?    It got my pen moving in the poetry direction.     

On the back cover one sentence gave me reason to dive right into that book:  “Put on magical sunglasses and look for a diamond desert, frogs croaking Morse code, and the lost star.”

I haven’t seen Hannah around for a several years.   She moved away.   I can only imagine she is burning up the world with her violin and more poetry writing.   She is truly gifted and wants to share her talents with the world.   All I can say is “good luck, Hannah, with all your creative adventures.”

​I must return to writing some poetry as I find it so relaxing to look out at a bit of nature while having loving words grow around it.   

I received this book in 2017 when Hannah was in 5th grade.   She must be in high school playing the violin, reading a book and writing.   Good luck in whatever adventures you choose to take part in, Hannah.  
​I'm sure they will be a huge success.

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