Metamorphosis
The first and best thing I learned
at home and then at school
was the magic of the written word.
Perhaps it was inborn –
the family all great readers
and gave me books for my birthdays.
************
(Now that I’m old it’s my son
who gives me books, always knowing
perfectly those I’ll love.
When he was little, I read to him
all the time. Like me in my childhood,
when he learned to read for himself
he disappeared from this world
into the words in the books,
only his quiet body still sitting here.)
************
Of course I became a poet.
Of course I became a witch.
Of course I learned all the words
for being me, all the words for life
all the words for love. Of course
I became all words.
Written for Friday Writings #2 at Poets and Storytellers United, where we were invited to write about something we learned at school.
Of course / I became all words.... love how you ended this verse...!!!
ReplyDeleteAh yes, you would! I'm not in the slightest surprised. xx
DeleteIn this hyper zipped-up fast-paced electronic age we probably need quiet reading more than ever before. Perhaps only the readers will remain sane.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, possibly. I note that as I get older I am turning to reading more than to the smart TV.
DeleteRosemary, this is a beautiful reflection on the magic of books ~ of reading to others, to yourself.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed it, dear Helen.
DeleteWhat a precious magical gift to pass on!
ReplyDeleteAs he has passed it on in turn to his daughter.
DeleteI agree that words are the best thing that I've learned in my lifetime. I don't think I'd have had much of a life without them.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't bear thinking of, a life without our joy in words.
DeleteI haven't learned all the words for being me. I do love the idea of it!
ReplyDeleteI too grew up with books, books, books. My father was progressive for his age (born in 1914, 45 when I was born), an old father, yet he's the one I remember reading to me. Poetry. Milne's "When We Were Very Young," and "Now We Are Six," which he didn't read to me until I was six! Oh, the anticipation!
My Dad was the one who read to me, too – including lots of poetry.
DeleteI love the idea of tracing our poetic roots back to the discovery of the power of words and how we could "spell" with them like witches do!
ReplyDeleteGood books are best friends...they comfort you and never disappoint.
ReplyDeleteYes I absolutely agree.
Delete"Of course/I became all words."
ReplyDeleteIs this not the dream of every writer? These words just sparked a new thread in my mind and I thank you for that, Rosemary.
You’re very welcome. Hope I get to read the results some day.
DeleteI fell in love with words when i won a book prize for being first in class (primary 3). The boy who won 3rd prize wanted to exchange his book with me because the book was full of words. My book was a colourful, illustrated story book. So we exchanged and my book was all words. It was Grimm's Fairy Tales and I devoured every page of it. Pretty dark for fairy tales (e.g. Babe in the Woods) and I realised what western tales were like. I think from that book, my interest grew to a lot of things. I wondered if i would be writing poetry if that boy did not come forward to exchange our prizes.
ReplyDeleteSorry for this long comment, but i think this was the day my interest in words began.
Oh yes, Grimm was pretty dark! But how rich! What a great favour that boy did you. Though I think you must have discovered the joy of words sooner or later.
DeleteI didn’t at all mind reading your long comment; I liked learning those details.
I'm always in awe (and a little jealous) of people who fell in love with writing words at a very young age. I always loved to read, but before my late teenage years I was more in love with mathematics than with creative writing. Sometimes, I wonder what I would've spelled... if writing and I would've started dancing when I was a child.
ReplyDeleteI love your relationship to books...
Alas, I have never been able to create a relationship with maths. But I don’t really mind because I’m so happy to have one with words and books. I think I was blessed in my family, in respect of both my genes and my conditioning.
DeleteAnd you became all words. Thank goodness for the great readers in your family, who passed on the magic of the written word to you. We get to enjoy this gift!
ReplyDeleteI am very thankful for them myself! And glad when others enjoy.
DeleteWithout words where would you and I be? Delicious write, Rosemary. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIndeed!!! And thank you for reading.
Delete"Of course I became a poet.
ReplyDeleteOf course I became a witch.
Of course I learned all the words
for being me, all the words for life
all the words for love. Of course
I became all words."
really liked that last refrain, i like how the pace and tone changed, gave the poem real movement, well done rosemary, enjoyed very much
Thank you. It's very nice when one's craft is noticed!
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