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A poem as lovely as a…

As school draws to a close, I begin to feel nostalgic and reminisce about the year’s events. Today, as I mused in my mind, I recalled a most humbling interaction with a 3rd grade girl. She came into the library asking for poetry books…of which we have hundreds. Beautiful, imaginative, moving, descriptive poetry. I was confident and satisfied. I smiled and led her to the shelves. I waved my arms wide and proclaimed, “All these books on these shelves are poetry books!” I walked away, giving her space and time to explore the many titles. I felt content, happy even. I expected her to, no I was certain, she would search and find that perfect tome. Ahhh…

After a few minutes, I headed back to check on my fellow verse enthusiast. The little girl met me with a confused, sad look. “You didn’t find anything?” I asked.

“No,” she replied, “I mean poetry like
the sky is blue
the grass is green
stuff.”

Oh…I had to step back, rethink. In the end, together we found her a poem. A simple poem about nature. And I was reminded how wonderful, joyful and unexpected life can be. I guess Joyce Kilmer was right. Poems are made (and read) by fools like me. (see Joyce Kilmer’s poem Trees @ http://www.bartleby.com/104/119.html)

Posted in School Life.


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