POETRY.

Shel Silverstein was basically how I was introduced to poetry. Of course when I was even younger I heard nursery rhymes, but I didn't recognize them as "poetry".  But Shel Silverstein was my gateway into the world of poets. His words were fun and silly and just made me feel better about myself. Although poetry is far too often dark and intense (and that can be a good thing) I miss reading the fun careless words of Mr. Silverstein that made me enjoy my child hood.

I was in second grade, Mrs. Ryan's class. We all lined up in the pod and everyone was "shhh"ing each other, which was only making it louder. It was everyones' favorite time of the week: time to go to the library. Along with everyone else I gathered around Mrs. People's chair scrambling to get that perfect spot on the carpet next to the bookcase and all my friends. I sat there, leaning against the book case, waiting for Mrs. Peoples to excuse us so I could go read my favorite book to cuddle up with in the library. When she let us go my best friend and I "briskly walked" over to the section by the big metal book stairs that had Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends we climbed to the top of the book tower, and plopped down, knowing we were in for twenty minutes of giggles and pure joy, soaking in the very beginning of a whole new world of poetry. 

I knew nothing of prose, allusions, iambic pentameter, or onomatopoeia. All I knew is Where the Sidewalk Ends was so popular that no one was aloud to check it out anymore. And I knew reading it just made me feel better and sent me home from school with a smile on my face. It was funny, it rhymed, and some of the poems were long (to a second grader), some were short, and some were just right, like my favorite "Spaghetti." It was funny, it rhymed, it sort of used repetition, and "pasketty" was just my favorite food. I had the page number memorized, and knew exactly where to find it. The poems in Where The Sidewalk Ends were funny, clever, and made me happy. There was a variety to choose from, each with its own individual tale and way to make me read, think, and laugh all at the same time.

I love writing poetry; on weekends, during winter break, spring break, and from 2:37pm to 8:00am on week days. Writing a cute little rhyme can be a fun way to surprise a friend, or a good way to remember something important, or it can be my way to release all of my energy and thoughts onto a piece of paper, or a napkin even. When I write a poem it is like the weight of the world is being lifted off my shoulders. It takes away all of the bad feelings inside me, and leaves me refreshed with a clear mind. But when you mix school with poetry it takes all the fun out of it for me. I don't like reading poetry if I don't personally know the author, because there isn't much I can do about their aching soul. Also one poem can have a plethora of meanings, so when a teacher says "No, Olivia, what the author is actually getting at is ______." it may open my mind to a different view of the poem, but no one can really be wrong in poems' meanings. When writing poetry in school my poems aren't very good because I don't like to share my personal expression of my thoughts and feelings with my class mates or my teacher. Poetry is a personal thing, and when you have to turn it in or assign it that takes away from the privacy of ones thoughts and emotions.