Wednesday, June 9, 2010

My first...and last...poem

My apologies for piggybacking on Garce's Wednesday....I swear it's still Tuesday where I live!

This is a poem I wrote for a magazine contest when I was in elementary school. It didn't win, but it stuck with me as the only poetic effort I've ever been able to pull off. Unfortunately, it's one thing to write something like this as a kid. As an adult, though, my poetry still comes out sounding like a fifth grader wrote it!


Written here from memory....


I won't forget my days with you.
Your memory will not leave my view,
For you have changed my life, you see,
And in my heart you'll always be.

Your friendship is my greatest prize.
It warms my heart like summer skies.
In darkest shadows of the night,
Your friendship brings a guiding light.

And now I see through all my tears,
I'll never lose you through the years.
No matter what, we'll never part,
For I have locked you in my heart.


On that very relevant note, it's with regret that I'm announcing my "retirement" from OGG sometime this month. I've been struggling to find my centre during some personal upheaval, and it's clear to me that I need to reduce my commitments until I get my feet back under me. It's been wonderful, and I'll definitely still follow along with the Grippers, and hopefully be invited back once in a while for a guest post!

7 comments:

  1. Hello, Devon,

    You've really got me wondering who you wrote this for!

    It scans almost perfectly.

    We'll miss you here at the Grip. We certainly expect you to put in your time as a guest occasionally!

    Warmest wishes,
    Lisabet

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  2. Devon,

    I'm not sure what age-range a 5th grader is (we've got a different schooling system here in the UK) but I think you're being too hard on yourself.

    A beautiful poem. And you know we're going to miss you. I hope your personal upheaval is soon resolved to your satisfaction.

    Best,

    Ash

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  3. Devon - best wishes for your future.

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  4. Devon,

    If you wrote that in fifth grade, I am sure you're teacher was very impressed. I wish my ninth graders would write so well.

    I'm sorry you've been having some rough times. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

    *hugs*

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  5. Devon;

    I totally forgive you for squashing my tiny spotlight, and I like your poem. You should have kept writing them and its not too late.

    We'll miss you here. I hope things work out for you, whatever those things are. Hearing someone leave the band is always a little shocking to me. I hope you'll come back and read our stuff. And ever and always, thank you Devon for reading my stuff. Keep writing.

    Garce

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  6. Devon,

    I do hope you didn't stop writing poetry because you didn't win. I enjoyed your poem.

    I wish you well in finding your center.

    Craig

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  7. Lisabet and Kathleen,

    Thanks for the well-wishes, and I'm definitely expecting to be grabbed for guest slots. Taking mental bets on who will ask me first! And Lisabet, honestly can't remember who I wrote it for, but whatever the situation was apparently made quite an impression on me 30 years ago!

    Hi Ash, thanks for the vote of confidence! Soon as I'm finished here I need to read your post...the title made me realize I have no idea what the salient difference is!

    Eyre, hi sweetie, thanks for the support. And it's always nice to have good feedback from teachers! I was the kid who had "a lot of potential but needs to stop skating by." Drove my teachers crazy, at least the ones who cared.

    Garce, it's a huge surprise to me that I even remember this poem so well. It's really etched in my memory for some reason. Maybe now that I'm using my creative side more for my writing, I'll try some forays back into other mediums. And I enjoyed your poetic contribution immensely, always blown away by your posts.

    Hi Craig, thank so much for taking the time to comment. It wasn't so much that I stopped because I didn't win, more that I only tried it in the first place because of the contest...I seem to remember it was a gifted class assignment to try to submit something for either a contest or publication. And thank you for the well wishes!

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