Wednesday, November 16, 2016

DMC: "Chrysalis" by Linda Baie





CHRYSALIS

When I turned thirteen,
I wrapped myself in the cocoon
Of my room.
Not even my scientist mother
Could observe the events
Developing inside
That layered armor.
 
Sometimes—
Friends received a small gift
Of a peek inside,
(I’m not sure they understood.)
Yet mostly it was me
Enjoying the secrecy
Of seclusion.
I lay on my bed, 
Wrapped in pink flowers,
Smoothed on lotions and perfume,
Listened to Elvis and Johnny and Ricky.
I spent hours thinking,
Thinking,
Thinking.
 
My wrap was warm,
Reliable,
Safe,
Impenetrable as planned.
I had taken charge!
 
Later, much later,
I threw off the leafy wrap
And flew away 
as the me
I alone wanted to be.
 
© 2016 Linda Baie. All rights reserved.
 
 
Ann Rider has challenged us to write poems about places of refuge and solace this month. Click HERE for more details.

Post your poem on our November 2016 padlet. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, November 25th, and one lucky participant will win a copy of BEFORE MORNING by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes, courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers.
 
 
 



12 comments:

  1. You've captured that adolescent cocoon perfectly, Linda! Love the contrast of the impenetrable wrap and the final stanza.

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  2. The "cocoon of my room" is such a marvelous way to describe how teens feel about their bedrooms! I, too, remember those hours of thinking, thinking, thinking while listen to music. And I love that uplifting (literally!) ending, Linda.

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  3. Thank you Buffy and Michelle. The poem brings my own bedroom memories, but also is a nod to my middle school students, so private, wondering who they might 'be".

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  4. "Not even my scientist mother
    Could observe the events
    Developing inside
    That layered armor." It is a mystery, isn't it? Even to ourselves. Nice, Linda!

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  5. I absolutely adore this. It seems to describe the process perfectly.

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  6. Gosh, the truths of this are astounding! Letting friends peek inside....all those hours laying on the bed. Wish I could get some of those back now. Wonderful job on this.

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  7. Fabulous, Linda! I have a 13 y/o just entering her cocoon stage. Your poem is a good reminder that I, as a mother, need to let her transformation happen without me observing. =)

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  8. Linda I love how you use room as cocoon perhaps in is safe to say most of us wail lessoning to music were also jotting downs poetic metaphors of life and how we wonted our to be in journals trying to keep them hidden from our mothers the start of writing journeys

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  9. Thank you all. I'm glad to have touched your lives with this in some special way, whether in your own past or in your here and now with your children. Thanks again Michelle for inviting guests who inspire and to Ann Rider for a challenge that's so personal.

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  10. Wow. That is truly an amazing poem. I love it. Thanks so much for it.

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  11. Linda,
    This is me, in a chrysalis at 13. That's when I started writing. Writing became my space to explore the many parts of myself. Thanks for reminding me.

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