My Love of Poetry and How it Began

I went to a public elementary school, and in 5th grade, we did a poetry unit. I thank God that my teacher had our class do that poetry unit, because it exposed me to the subject in an in-depth way for the very first time, and I instantly fell in love! We learned about the various types of poetry, and got to write some ourselves. I found that I really enjoyed writing poetry. Rhyming was of particular interest to me. I don't know if my parents still have the poetry book our class made. Perhaps it is buried with all my other saved classwork, somewhere in my parents' attic. Maybe I'll find it someday. I feel so thankful for being exposed to poetry at a young age and getting the chance to experience the power of expressing oneself through the written word!

When I was 11 years old, my grandma died of lung cancer. My family lived right next door to my grandparents, and we were very close to my grandma. She was kind of the glue that held the family together. Birthday celebrations and holiday celebrations were always held at her house, and she and my great-grandma and my mom always cooked such tasty food. When my grandma died (and my great-grandma, shortly thereafter), things changed. We were obviously grieving a lot as a family during this time. One night in particular, when my grandma's passing was heavy on my heart, I sat down at our kitchen table and wrote my first real, heartfelt poem (not for a class). I wrote about how, as Christians, we know that our loved ones who know Jesus are in heaven and that we'll see them again. Death is not the end. That poem gave me comfort and it has comforted me even years later, as I've recalled it again when other friends or family members have passed away. It was published in an anthology of poetry when I was a teen.

A few of my favorite poets are:

• Shel Silverstein - his poetry is so fun and creative
• Emily Dickinson - I know everyone loves her poetry, but I don't care, her works are amazing!
• e.e. cummings - love all the lowercase - unique style
• Edgar Guest - his poems always have a positive and uplifting (and true!) message

When I was about 13 years old, I started writing poetry more regularly. Whenever inspiration struck, I would start writing. It could be during a class, so I'd scrawl out the beginning of a poem on my notebook, and finish it once I got home from school. It could be while I was reading a magazine, so I'd write it out on the magazine pages before I forgot the words in my head. Sometimes the words just seemed to flow forth from me, almost on their own. One summer, when I visited my best friend's house for a week, we wrote poetry together and made our own book on the computer. We then printed off a couple of copies of it. Once I was about 14, I had a whole notebook full of poetry, and illustrated it with magazine cut-outs and drawings I'd done. Most of my poems were about my faith in God and love.

The other day, a good friend asked me what my life goals are. I had to pause for a long time and think about that question. Now that I'm a wife and mom, my goals look different than when I was younger. I want a good life for my kids, and for them to be healthy and happy. Of course, I still want to share the gospel with others and for everyone to know the Lord. I want to be the best wife and homemaker I can. Someday, my husband and I would like to buy a house. What I forgot all about until recently, was that it's always been a dream and goal of mine to publish my poetry someday. The idea always comes back to me, once the kids are asleep or I have a minute to daydream. I have always played around with my poetry and thought about publishing it, but then I've hesitated, thinking maybe my poems weren't good enough or that I needed more time to edit and perfect them. However, now that I'm getting older, I think I'm almost ready to just go ahead and take the leap! That being said... I'll keep you posted! Hopefully someday in the near future, I'll be a published author.

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

When you're up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it's vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!
Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don't let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!

Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you're beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don't give up, whate'er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!