My English-teacher heart has been bursting. Each year Hadley's school hosts a district-wide poetry festival. Students in K-12 can submit original poems. I've been reading my girls poems since they could talk. And Hadley, oh joy, wanted to write one for the contest this year. I spent a week reading her different poems from Shel Silverstein to Robert Frost to Langston Hughes and even a bit of Emily. We also found a children's book of poems with all kinds of classics.

When we sat down to write the poem I told Hads the process. First you think of a topic, then you think of a creative way to write about the topic. In kindgergarten, they spent a few weeks working with descriptive words so I reminded her of that and reminded her how a poem looks different from a normal paragraph. She thought briefly and then rattled out the poem. I had vowed to myself that I would stay silent. No suggesting different words or lines from this former editor. I was silent--even when I couldn't figure out how she could possible end this poem. Then, I made her wait two days. We reviewed the poem (teach the writing proces at a young age) to see if she wanted to change any words. I read it out loud to her. She made one change--appropriately changing an its to his. Yes! My baby girl is good with pronouns. I turned in the poem according to all the rules but felt nervous. I thought her poem was really good--but what if the judges thought I had helped. (In 6th grade my science project took second place with a note from the judge saying my parents had helped too much--I, of course, don't remember any help.) But Had's poem was chosen for presentation and she acted so confident up there reading into the microphone. I know I should stop my camera as a video recorder-- then you wouldn't have to strain to hear her so much and I didn't pick a great seat either. I printed the poem below the video so you can follow along.

The reception was fun and Had's best friend and her family came and cheered her on, which was awesome since Tom and Kass were at soccer. Sitting in the auditorium watching the grandparents file in I really missed my family....so here you go grandmas. Enjoy!

I Am
by Hadley Wells
I am an eagle soaring through the sky.
I am a flamingo balancing on one foot.
I am a bear catching her food.
I am a star twinkling brightly in the sky.
I am a mother bird laying her eggs.
I am a snake slithering left and right.
I am an elephant swinging his trunk to and fro.
But really, I'm just dreaming, really.