“While we try to teach our children all about life,
our children teach us what life is all about.”
- Angela Schwindt
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| The Flying Dream, Richard Wilkinson |
2014. This is the year I intend to fly.
Care to join me?
To prepare for takeoff, I'd like to share the poem I received from the talented Tabatha Yeatts during last month's Winter Poem Swap. It was the first time I participated in one of Tabatha's poem swaps and now I'm hooked!
Besides Tabatha's inspiring poem (unveiled shortly), she sent me several goodies, including Horror Refrigerator Word Magnets, "perfect for leaving a final message before that thing standing behind you swallows you whole...." But, well, that's a post, and a limerick, for another day.
Today's little ditty is meaningful to me on a deeper level. It's symbolic of why I choose to write for children, because of their inherent powers to inspire and live life in the moment, to enjoy each day with unequaled exuberance, and to absorb and reflect the world's goodness like sunlight.
Secret Superpowers
Drawing places no one’s ever seen –
Turning a bed into a trampoline –
Not getting sick no matter how much I spin –
Finding the only mud puddle to step
in –
Imagining stories about people I see –
Thrilling
my dog at the sight of me –
Sensing when I am near ice cream –
Sleeping upright once I’ve run out of steam –
Catching a leaf before it hits the ground –
Creeping up behind you without making a sound…
© 2013 Tabatha Yeatts. All rights reserved.
Today I urge you to collect and fill your toolbox with your own secret superpowers. May you use them with wild abandon each day of 2014... and beyond.
At I Think in Poems, Betsy is also sharing poetry magic. Please join her for today's Poetry Friday roundup.
And another opportunity to help you take flight in 2014:
Join me and other picture book, middle grade, and young adult writers this month who are embracing Shannon Abercrombie's challenge to Start The Year Off Write. For each of 21 days, established authors will present unique writing exercises to inspire, motivate, hone your skills, and help you soar in the new year. You may even win a prize! Do check it out!
I hope you're ready for your wings, Michelle! Thanks for sharing Tabitha's "Superpowers" poem, and your positive take on the New Year. I'm going to pack a nice red cape in my toolbox, along with some Poetry Friday inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI hope I'm ready too, Liana... nah, I don't hope, I am. :) I will look for you in the skies with your flowing red cape. Happy New Year!
DeleteHappy New Year! Looking forward to watching you fly, Michelle. (I'm also looking forward to reading some horrifying limericks!) Thanks for the toolbox :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd thank YOU for being the inspiration and friend you are, Tabatha.
DeleteHappy New Year, Michelle! Thanks for sharing Tabatha's wonderful poem, and the toolbox! = )
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Becky! And thanks so much for your heartwarming compliment on Tabatha's blog-- you made my day. :)
DeleteI love Tabatha's poem and will spend some time thinking about my superpowers toolbox. Thank you! Also: love the thought of you flying. Yay!
ReplyDeleteThanks Irene. Without realizing it, it seems "flying" has come forth as my one little word for 2014! Doesn't seem too far off from your 2013 word, "sky." :)
DeleteTabatha's poem gets right to the heart of children, doesn't it? And I love the idea of putting my superpowers into your bright red toolbox. My favorite color is red, so I'm hooked! Thanks Michelle!
ReplyDeleteTabatha is great at getting to the heart of whatever she writes about, isn't she? I also expect wonderful things will come from that bright red toolbox in your capable hands! :)
DeleteMichelle,
ReplyDeleteI love Tabatha's poem. I teach first grade. One day we were talking and my students started talking about building tents in their houses, jumping on beds, playing hide and seek inside, and other very kid ways to pass the time. They were so caught up in their excitement of all the fun they have. I was quickly brought into their pure joy of just being. It is funny how we forget the simple things that made us happy when we were young. That joy is captured in Tabatha's poem.
You were so right when you shared your reasons for writing for children. They do "to absorb and reflect the world's goodness like sunlight." The lessons we could learn from them.
Thanks for sharing,
Cathy
Thanks, Cathy, for sharing that delightful episode from your classroom! I couldn't agree with you more-- about Tabatha capturing that feeling so well, and also about the lessons we can learn from reclaiming that playful, sunlit child within each of us.
DeleteTabatha's poem and your magic tool box - I feel my superpowers brewing! Happy New Year, Michelle - here's to a new year of flight.
ReplyDeleteRight on, SuperGirl! Cheers! :)
DeleteHmm...my secret poet superpowers? Now you've got me thinking and wondering -- a great good gift on a cold cold night. Thank you for your inspiration today and every week! I'll be looking for you in the sky in 2014!
ReplyDeleteBackatcha Mary Lee! I'm also honored that you will be "borrowing" my Resolution poem on Tabatha's blog to help with your one little word for 2014. :)
DeleteHappy New Year and Happy Flying, Michelle! Will put my head down on my pillow tonight thinking about that toolbox.
ReplyDeleteI hope those thoughts lead you into dreams of flying, Julie. :)
DeleteCan I recommend another toolbox, Michelle? The Poetry Home Repair Manual : Practical Advice for Beginning Poets by Ted Kooser. Kooser is a marvelous poet and how-to writer! Happy 2014!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Diane! Love Ted Kooser-- thank you for the recommendation. Happy 2014 to you too!
DeleteThose secret superpowers really capture the essence of a kid's imagination (I guess that's Tabatha's superpower!) Thanks for sharing it, Michelle, and now I'm going to think about packing up my toolbox.
ReplyDeleteYou're no slouch either when it comes to capturing essence, Buffy! I wonder if dark chocolate can be a superpower? You better pack some in your toolbox just in case.
DeleteI love that Tabatha found such a perfect swap gift for you, and what a poem! So laden with joyful images. The picture you chose is ethereal -- I'm afraid I wouldn't be courageous enough to fly in such a wispy dress (give me a space suit!) I hadn't heard about the writing challenge, so I dashed over and signed up. Thanks for sharing so much inspiration today!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keri! And I'm so glad you signed up for the challenge. Nice to know I'll be in good company. :)
DeleteLove the poem. You're inspiring me to try something extraordinary this year too. I'd better leave before I start flapping my wings.
ReplyDeleteViolet N.
If flapping your wings is the only thing I inspire you to do, Violet, that's still okay with me. I'm all for playful silliness!
DeleteSo happy to have met you here through the Start Your Year Off Write challenge!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Juliana! Good writing to you!
DeleteYou have Superpowers that are not so Secret as is apparent in this wonderful poem. Thanks so much for sharing it, Michelle! I think my 2014 Superpower will be tenacity. Happy New Year! =)
ReplyDeleteTenacity is an awesome superpower to be sure! Happy New Year, Bridget. :)
DeleteGreat post, Michelle! Tabatha's poem reminds me of my boys when they were small, especially turning the bed into a trampoline and finding the only mud puddle! I also love the quote from Angela Schwindt at the top. So true. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Catherine. I, too, can picture my little ones (who are not quite so little anymore) partaking in such universal truths of childhood! :)
DeleteThanks for a wonderful post to usher in a new year, Michelle, and thanks to Tabatha for the poem! Wishing you both the good luck that comes with catching a leaf before it hits the ground, and lots of inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Robyn. :) Wishing you luck and inspiration in 2014 as well!
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