The Words Around Me
Poem adaptation from The Book Thief/ Standover Man
All my life I’ve been self-conscious...of the words around me
My first words came from my teacher..”Pray child pray” “I’m glad to see Michael is no longer the lowest reader in class.”
There were tears and frustration and the color red.
I tried hard. I memorized poetry, but I still saw red and I was slow to catch on.
My second set of words came from my mother “I brought you this book, you will write a great story in it one day.”
For some reason, my mom chose to fight for me. She got me a tutor and I spent the summer reading...
The book remained empty, but the words of other books surrounded me.
Sleepover Friends, Babysitters club, Sweet Valley High, became my best friends. I spent hours upon hours reading with my new friends.
My third set of words came to me while I was in the 4th grade, it was a grey day in December, my grandfather’s battle with cancer was over.
The words came. They flooded around me. My pen cried blue in a journal made of flowers
Many years later, I needed a friend. My fourth set of words came to me in the form of a slight stubborn Polish girl. Her name was Tina. She used her words to befriend me. My pen cheered pink.
We built our friendship on in-class notes and words over the phone.
She read my poetry in blue. She told everyone what a great writer I was.
My cheeks glowed red. She taught me that words matter.
The book, still empty, but my words everywhere
To my daughter:
My mom gave me this book to write a great story
My best friend gave me the courage to do it
Now I am giving this book to you. Write your story...
