Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit lovely Laura Purdie Salas for Roundup.
Shout out to South Carolina educators! Charles and I had so much fun meeting folks and talking books with you at South Carolina Association of School Librarians in Columbia. Thank you for inviting us.
with 3 SC Librarians of the Year (l-r):
Pamela Williams, Angela Durham,
& Lonie Lewis (2024 winner!)
Writer-friends: don't miss my post over at Smack Dab in the Middle about How to Rebound from Rejection. (This writing biz can be so tough sometimes!)
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| the boys, the girls, & MJ |
As much as we all want the story of the loving, protective brothers, that wasn't my experience. There were some really rough times with "the boys." My poem could have been much much darker. And I know I'm not the only one: there are children in the world who have similar experiences. We don't get to choose our siblings, and parents don't always know how to protect children from each other. So I wanted my poem to share that truth, but in a lighter way.
I do credit my brothers for helping make me the strong, compassionate person I am today. They also helped prepare me for raising three boys. And they are still teaching me about acceptance and forgiveness.
The artist is another Alabamian, Charlie Lucas. Thanks so much for reading.
Brothers
A storm is coming—
a storm called “the boys.”
They tease
and they taunt.
They wreck all my toys.
Maybe they're fine individuals,
just not when they're together.
Day darkens,
sky rumbles and stirs.
Anyone can predict this weather!
When the boys come around,
I take cover in my room.
I may be a streak of lightning;
but they are all thunder:
boom boom BOOM!
A storm is coming.
It comes everyday.
Sure, blizzards eventually blow over.
But Mom says, like it or not,
the boys are here to stay.
Sending joy that you & Charles spent quality time with not one, not two, but THREE great school librarians. Such a treat for you & them. And briefly - TY for creating & sharing. I have a similar memories about sibs & no poetry from that - yet. But I was unusually fortunate for a period of meeting with a gifted counselor [on several issues] to help me with acceptance to lighten the load.
ReplyDeleteI Loved your recent newsletter & put a nod to something from it, in my post today, at links ... Happy DayLight Saving Season!
Aw, thank you for your honesty, Irene. I imagine the three you raised might be a teeny bit different? I raised two and they taught me to see and be in the world with new eyes.
ReplyDeleteIrene, thank you for sharing these memories. I have heard parents say that children are unbreakable and that they will just bounce back, but some things stick with us forever. XOXO to you, my friend!
ReplyDeleteIrene, I'm glad you and Charles could be with teachers in South Carolina. Your poem is good for the world. I'm glad you were able to keep it lighter and write it for children who also need it. Isn't this the truth in so many situations: "Maybe they're fine individuals, / just not when they're together." M. Scott Peck writes about "group evil" and sometimes it manifests itself so clearly. Peace to you!
ReplyDeleteHooray for author visits! It's amazing what a difference they can make. Some lucky kids got to see you and Charles together. Wow!
ReplyDeleteFamilies are all the things...good, bad, ugly, gorgeous, wonderful...all the things. It's cool that you could write about your brothers with some love and humor. You streak of lightning, you. They are lucky.
The sibling situation is fertile ground for writers. I had sisters, but no brothers, but it was still wrapped around the good, the bad and the ugly. Thank you the reminder, Irene. Most informative.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Irene! I appreciate it when the hard bits of life are represented in kid-friendly art. Happy Poetry Friday!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you and Charles got to be with librarians, Irene! And thank you for this poem. My home life wasn't so happy when I was growing up, but my big sisters (I have 3, and no brothers) always had my back. There were battles, for sure, but mostly, we were a united front in the face of my parents' (mostly dad's) rules, sternness, and depression. Thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteI love that line about them being all thunder! Such a great visual and aural quality! Also, thank you for that rejection post. I definitely need to read that this week.
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this post - especially that photo with the librarians - so very nice to see that, Irene.
ReplyDeleteLoved the voices in the poem, makes it come alive, truly.
Powerful ending to your poem Irene for this shared, sensitive relationship. Great pics, and thanks for your rejection link!
ReplyDelete