For Mother’s Day my 11 year old is giving me a book of poems that he wrote. Best Mother’s Day gift, ever.
He graciously let me share one of his poems with the world.
three simple steps
and the board groans as he
bounces
and he’s airborn
like a bird in flight
because he IS a bird
or a plane
not a train
he’s as graceful as a jellyfish
that floats in the waters of a reef
as he starts to
descend down
down
down
he swoops into the water
like a hawk swooping down on a mouse
with a splash like a mouse
and then pops back up
to meet the thunder
of the crowd
with a perfect
score
of
7
Boys write poems about unexpected subjects. I was a tomboy at 11, but I wrote poems about Chincoteague ponies, skiing, and wolves. My son wrote poems about a paracord bracelet, working out at the gym (he’s a gymnast), trackerjackers, and his best friend.
Go visit Irene at Live. Love, Explore! for more poetry.
That IS a Best Gift! Very special! One of my kids sang “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson to me for my birthday, and I felt like I had won an award.
I love the way your son’s poem starts — he grabs you right away and pulls you right into the scene. “Graceful as a jellyfish” is a very fresh simile, too, and the whole thing is wonderfully visual. I hope your son keeps on writing!
Wow! What a talented poet he is! I can’t imagine a better Mother’s Day gift. A perfect dive, a perfect poem. Thank him for sharing it with us :).
How great is that, Katya! It’s a wonderful poem that you shared & I love “because he IS a bird”-exactly as it should be. Thank you for telling about this special gift.
Just loved this poemmand I’d love to share it with my sixth graders – what a fantastic gift, a book of poems!
Ben said he would be thrilled if you shared his poem with your class.
Oh, the genes are definitely alive and well in the next generation! (floats, swoops, splash, pop – this poem is so alive!) Congrats to your talented, original son. Tell him your poetry-mom friends think he is giving you the MOST amazing Mother’s Day gift. Enjoy your weekend!
Beautiful poem, Katya. Thank your son for sharing it. I am a fan of jellyfish, so that was my favorite line. It’s amazing how poets can slow down and describe a fleeting moment like a dive.
Woohoo! Great gift! And how terrific that he knows how much you value poetry:>) I love his poem. Such great specifics in there with the jellyfish and the hawk and such. And love the voice! (NOT a train!)
Wow. What a cool poem!
— Jet
I couldn’t agree more, Katya, about the best Mother’s Day gift, ever. You have a poet for a son, how beautiful is that! And so talented too! I love this poem, thank you for sharing this with us. :)
Lucky you, to receive such a gift!
Tell your son I said, “Thanks for taking me along on your dive! I’ve never been brave enough to dive off the high dive, but in this poem, I can float and fly and nail a perfect 7!!”
How wonderful! My kids write poetry too, and it’s so much fun to share it.
What a lovely poem! And I love the other topics he chose to write about, esp. trackerjackers. :) Katya, I have a feeling you will be pulling this one out for years and years to come. Thanks so much for sharing.
What a fabulous gift for Mother’s Day. I love this line: because he IS a bird. That says it all! Tell your son thanks for letting us be his reader.
Thank you, everyone, for your comments.
Ben was so thrilled when I sat down with him last night and read him all the wonderful things you said about his poem.