I am proud to be part of an amazing group of teacher writers who come together virtually once a week and write as part of TeachWrite's “Time to Write” workshops. Last week, TeachWrite CEO, Jennier Laffin, invited us to write a poem inspired by the book Write the Poem by Piccadilly in which each page offers a word to inspire writing. TeachWrite members wrote poems sparked by the word “Ocean”. Here is mine.
Ocean
Ebb and Flow
Movement
Mobility
Knees bent
hands held tightly onto
mine.
A smile spread across his
tanned cheeks
lifting the edges of his lifelong
mustache.
Icy water pulls
the sand underneath my
youthful feet
threatening my balance.
His strong hands
tighten around mine;
a lifetime of keeping me
safe.
We both look outward
towards the deepest blue.
I think this is going to be
a good one...
One
Two
Three
JUMP!
I soar over the
wave
giggling with
delight.
The ebb and flow of life
passes.
His mobility
agility
ability to
bend
his
knees
and
jump
slips away.
Yet I hold tight;
Tight as the current
pulls
at the tide of his
life.
Author's Note
When I think of the ocean, I think of my dad and my many memories of swimming with him. He was a hands-on and active parent; always present and happiest when playing with my brother and me. When I was a young girl, we used to “jump the waves” together. As he aged, a degenerative disease stole my dad's mobility. One of the most significant indications of this cruel life transition was that he no longer wanted to swim.
When I first drafted this poem, I gave more attention to the passing of his life. Upon revising it, I decided to focus on the details of these loving childhood memories because, during those raw moments when I miss him so much that I can’t breathe, they are what sustain me. This serves as an example of how writing can heal. I’ve also played with space and how the words appear on the page. This craft move is inspired by poetry lessons I’ve shared with my students by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater and her series “Keeping a Notebook”.
This is so touching and beautiful Krista. Your Dad is smiling down at you.
So tender.
I loved reading the author’s notes, too.