Saturday is the last day of my challenge to write a poem a day during the month of July. It's been a learning experience, both difficult and fun. My goal was to have at least thirty poems I could continue to revise and polish during the school year. I ended up with about twenty. Some days I went back to revise the poem from the previous day and never got around to writing a new one. Even though I didn't meet my goal, I feel good about the experience, and I'm glad stuck with it.
This week I worked on writing poems that tell a story.
North Star
The summer our parents got divorced, my
brother and I were sent to the country
to stay with Grandma. I was eight, Jim was
ten— not knowing then how our lives would change—
we were wishing for something permanent.
Grandma knew
what we needed.
Every evening after supper
she led us to the backyard to watch
stars snuggle into the folds of night.
Tracing constellations
she explained
They change with the seasons,
but some things stay—
constant.
She taught us how to follow the Big
Dipper to the North Star— with a promise
it would be there when we need
to find our way home.
While Mom and Dad were splitting
a house of furniture and dishes—
Grandma kept Jim and me nestled
in the constant compass
of her love —
"stars snuggle into the folds of night"
ReplyDelete"Grandma kept Jim and me nestled
in the constant compass
of her love -"
Wow, Linda. This poem is beautiful. I hope you do keep writing and posting poems for us to read, even sharing your revision-play-and-process. It's been a treat to look forward to coming here each Friday. Thank you so much.
Amy
Linda, love the poem, love the grandma: I'd like to be that good and wise.
ReplyDeleteA poem with Astronomy!! I like it!
ReplyDeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteKeep writing- this is a lovely poem with lines that really stand out - stars snuggle into the fold of night, nestled in the constant compass of her love. Fond memories during a difficult time. Your poem reminds me of a Patricia Polacco book. Not sure of which one though...
~Theresa
Lovely, Linda! Some beautiful images, and you capture both change and constancy in personal lives and the universe.
ReplyDeleteWow, congrats on making poetry a priority and achieving so much during July! This is really beautiful. Thanks for writing it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful central metaphor in your poem, Linda. Narrative poems of childhood are so powerful -- it takes skill to remember the emotions of childhood and write honestly about them without adult-mind interference.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for the very kind comments and encouragement. I really appreciate your support. I'm so fortunate to have internet friends who take time from their busy days to read my blog. I hope to meet each of you in person someday.
ReplyDeleteFondly,
Linda