So, this post is in honor of JP- the best story teller I have ever known.
JP was not only an avid poetry (and bubble time) lover, but quite an incredible poet himself...and I'll bet you guys didn't know that I also, am quite the incredible poet.
I have yet to grace the bathtub gang with my intricate rhyme schemes, iambic hexameter (i'm much too advanced for pentameter), mind-blowing assonance and alliteration, post-modernist themes, the use of negative capability, and just really generally genius and majestic euphony.
I don't mean to toot my own horn or anything, but I am not sure many of you are aware that you have been loofah-ing the back of a PUBLISHED and AWARD WINNING POET.
Thats right. It's true. I really don't mean to brag or make you guys feel inadequate. I still plan on sharing lukewarm scented bath waters with you. But maybe you'll think twice before insulting my feety pajamas- CAROLINE. Geez. I'm shy, ok?
But, I digress. Let me spin you a yarn of that fateful day on which my hard work would be recognized and preserved for readers of all ages and sizes to enjoy.
It was a cold fall day of my third grade year. The leaves were changing, which was appropriate, as the changing season was just the subject of my piece of timeless rhyming gold. I was called to Principal Baum's (*aforementioned in my bus post) office for some big news. I had won the OCTELA contest (Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts ) and my poem "I am an Oak Tree" would be nationally published and distributed in a book of young authors. Not only that, there would be a big awards presentation at which my favorite author (Peter Catalanato- google him. swoon.) would present me an award and a signed book. I was pretty much famous after that at my school, you know, signing autographs, posing for pictures with first graders. It was big time. I mean I really thought I had hit my peak in kindergarten when, due to my
extremely advanced reading level, I was asked to read a book to my principal.
Think AGAIN.
Well, ok- so maybe nobody cared. And maybe my teacher forced me to go to every single classroom in Emerson Elementary school and read it to them, including the fifth grade classes!!! OH THE HORROR. And maybe it was pretty mortifying. I was so awkward, even then, that I made a friend come with me and just stand next to me when I had to do these beat poetry readings, just so I wouldn't be so embarassed, which I think just made me look weirder. This was also pre-braces (aka huge crazy crooked teeth), and the beginning of crazy glasses and being fat.
So, I got my award. My sweaty hand shook that of the gorgeous Peter Catalanato. I got a free lunch. And my moment of glory came to its close. That moment was the real pinnacle of my writing career, and have infrequently attempted much poetry since then (except when I was going through my songwriting phase), not because I am not capable of more heartwarming prose, but merely beacuse I don't want to tarnish the glorious memory.
Here's a little taste of my AWARD WINNING and PUBLISHED poem... (i can't give you the whole thing, you'll have to buy the book)
The Oak Tree
by Meredith Ann Peters
I am an oak tree
I stand across the street
silently i say hello
to everyone i meet
The pool is closed, the weather is cool
and now the kids are back at school
I am so lonely and very bored too
now that the kids are gone, theres nothing to do.
blah blah the tree loses its leaves and then the last line has something about the tree being naked. Which if I do say so myself, was very cutting edge and risque for a third grader.
Has your world been rocked or what? I accept fan mail @ 202 Bloomfield St. Apt 4, Hoboken NJ 07030
Bubbles can be Troubles!
Hmm...I think you guys should stick with reading and listening to JP's poetry and lyrics...
We'll miss you John. You are truly an inspiration to us all.
