April is National Poetry Month. Every year, my dear friend (and poet Extraordinaire), Mary Lee Hahn chooses a theme, and writes a poem each day. Mary Lee blogs and posts her poems at two different places- YEAR OF READING and a fabulous new poetry blog POETREPOSITORY
This year, Mary Lee has chosen the theme, "PO-EMotions," and will be writing about a different emotion each day. She promises, "This year, I will write a poem a day that either evokes an emotion, or uses an emotion word in the title or body of the poem." If you want to read more about the emotions she will be touching on, go here.
Today's emotion is fear. All day yesterday, I jotted scraps and images that came to me.
"fear"
every year
a little one hangs back
whimper crying
clinging to mama's hand
and I gently peel the two apart
reassure mom (who is also a little teary)
here there will be
books
watercolors
good friends
and recess
school
is not such a scary place
after all
Carol Wilcox, (c) 2015
The back story: For the past few years, I have been a literacy coach, mostly at elementary schools. On the first day of school, pretty much every year, I am assigned to kindergarten, where I spend the first hour or two consoling those little guys who are not quite sure about the school thing. Usually we become good friends, and by the time they hit second or third grade, we laugh about that first day of kindergarten.
********
"Fear"
that voice
called fear
whisper shouts
in my ear
but what if…
and what if…
or what if…
even so, what if…
and I have to keep
reminding that
loud loud loud
quiet voice,
"Peace!
Be still
and know that
HE is God."
(c) Carol Wilcox, 2015
****************
And then a tanka (Japanese poem, five lines, syllables: 5-7-5-7-7)
"To my boys"
Often fear looks like
anger loud red hot breaking
easier to rage
than to acknowledge weakness
or holes grief has torn in soul
(C) Carol Wilcox, 2015
To read Mary Lee's, and terrific poems by several others, go to YEAR OF READING or POETREPOSITORY
8 comments:
Three different fears, some stay, some disappear, yet to acknowledge is a good thing, then we can take a next step? Although my granddaughter had been to school with me many times, the day she was to start her own adventure was very hard. Exciting & terrifying all at the same time. I like that 'whisper shout' line, Carol, & the idea that fear can be anger too. Most can only be angry at those who are safe, & ignore what's really happening. You've written it right!
I knew the first one was kindergarten. I remember a dad leaving his daughter and he said to me, "That was hard." only he wasn't talking about his daughter! I love how you captured three different perspectives of fear. Gosh, I am lucky to one poem written! :)
Wow! These three poems show three very different fears and responses to fear.
A myriad of fears. And yet we go on.
I think it's funny that so many of us accessed school fears for our poems! (funny -- interesting, not funny -- ha ha)
Peace! Be still, and know He is God! The true answer to fear! All these poems so aptly catch this emotion that is often so difficult to deal with.
I tell my son all the time, anger is a mask for fear. And it is for me too! Whenever I'm angry at my son, if I really examine more closely, it's because I'm scared of something. Fear of: losing him, not having him attached as fully and deeply as I want him to be, having no control over him, being unable to heal him as much as he needs to heal in the time that I have him.
Dear Carol -- I want you to know that I read your poem "Fear" every morning. My daughter has been in the pediatric intensive care for one month and the "what if..." of fear has filled my mind the entire time. Your poem helps liberate my fear-filled mind, reminding me to have faith. Thank you!
Julie-
Your comment broke my heart. I tried to find an email address or contact information, but was not successful. I'm hoping, then, that you will somehow read this comment. Please know that your family will be in my prayers. I'm praying that you will feel God's peace and presence and love in new and amazing ways. I'm praying that you will have the energy you need. And I'm praying for His healing hand on your daughter. Please let me know if I can do or pray anything! My personal email: carwilc306@gmail.com
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