National Poetry Month!

What happens when a poet time travels?

It’s National Poetry Month!

Photo by Álvaro Serrano on Unsplash

While the last few years I’ve focused mostly on my fiction and creative nonfiction works, I actually started out as a poet. Since it’s national poetry month, I thought I’d take this opportunity to time travel . . . and look back at some of my oldest poetry!

I wrote my first real poem at age 14 (before that they were song lyrics) and continued to write poetry consistently until around the age of 25. I do still write poetry, just not as consistent as I once did.

During my teen years, a few of my poems were published. In fact, I even won a National Poetry Contest for my poem, Spare Change. My English teacher convinced me to enter. I couldn’t believe it when I won! The contest was out of California, and to this east coast small town girl, that in itself was very cool. Here I am at 16 with my winning certificate:  

After high school, I was accepted into college at Amherst in Massachusetts to study creative writing. Unfortunately, I was unable to go for various reasons.

In honor of national poetry month—I thought I’d do something for my past self—and publish one poem a week for the month of April. All of these poems I’m going to share were written between the ages of 14-22. Wow – my teen and early twenties self would be so excited about this!

In fact, here’s an excerpt from my journal written at age 22 with my thoughts on writing poetry:

“I live to write and hope to someday write for a living. I have numerous short stories, essays, songs, poems, etc. I have attempted a novel once or twice, but I haven’t yet found myself successful in finishing one. Though I extend myself into various different genres, poetry is the closest to my heart. Poetry is an honest expression of a person’s soul. It speaks in silence, to the beat of its own rhythm, its own life. A poem can say everything in just a few words. Poetry has the ability to express what lurks in our souls, a deeper sense of being than what we express in everyday conversation. Poetry is the true essence of the soul.”

So—here’s to National Poetry Month and Week One of my Poetry Spotlight.

May we never forget where we came from and how our talents continue to evolve.

I encourage you to also look back at your past selves and pick up something you used to love to do, but have stepped away for one reason or another. It’s never too late!

And now . . . this week’s poem!

I wrote this poem, Encouraging Words at 14 years old. It came rushing to me one day out of the blue. I remember writing it furiously in my journal! This poem was later published when I was 16. Here it is:

Encouraging Words

Your Words

Create me

They give me.

Spirit and life

Warmth

And Shelter

With your encouraging words,

I can reach the sky,

I can dance the clouds,

To my fullest ability

But I can only do this if your words are true.

If they are not

I will swell inside.

And the seed you have planted,

Will extend from its roots,

Overpowering my soul

With its poisonous stem

I will die,

From your poisonous words.

So, speak to me

Only with the goodness of your heart

Raise me

To touch the stars

And I shall reward you.

With some encouraging words.

Till Next Time,

Sarah

AKA A Busy Lady

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