Here's a poem I performed for my good friend, Angie Curington's second grade class at Palmer Elementary––an inner-city school in Denver. I tried to write it to their level of understanding, which I believe is the first step of good communication. I wrote it in 20 minutes, so I'm exctited to expand it even more. As part of our time, I shared a little about the artform of poetry and got to help them practice performing poems for their poetry day today. Schools are begging for adults to spend time with their kids. We should take more advantage of it.
I know who you are, really.
And deep down you know too but you’re afraid to speak it because it seems a bit silly.
And maybe your daddy or mommy or brother or sister
forgot to tell you today, but who you are is special in every way.
You were not made to sink in your chair
and scratch your hair like a baboon.
This classroom is a space shuttle, not a zoo
you are an astronaut made to dance on the moon of your dreams.
Take flight and soar.
You are a lion ready to roar
and let out the sound of your passion
for the world to hear.