The blank page is my canvas.
My imagination is the paint brush.
-Angelique Kereecko
(Cherokee)
poet-ᏍᎩ ᎤᏂᎨᏳᎯᏳ ᎨᏒᎢ,
ᎡᏥ ᏍᎩᏯᏕᎶᏆᏍᎬᎩ ᎯᏍᎩ ᎢᏳᏕᏘᏴᏛ ᎨᏒᎢ; ᎾᎯᏳ ᎡᎶᎯ ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏔᏩᏕᎪ ᎦᏓᎪᎵᏰᏍᎬ ᎠᎴ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎢ. ᎤᏥ ᏂᎪᎯᎸ ᎠᎩᏩᎯᏍᏔᏁ ᎪᏪᎵ, ᎾᏍᎩᏯ ᎠᏆᏛᏐᏅᎢ. ᎠᏆᏅᏔ ᎢᎸᏍᎩ ᎢᏳᏓᎴᎩ ᎪᏪᎵ ᏗᏟᎶᏍᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ, ᎾᏍᎩ Dr. SuᏏ, ᏑᏂᏏ, ᎹᏱᎹᏏ, ᎹᎦ ᏑᎾᏓᏡᎩ, ᎠᎴ ᏓᏨᏍᏙᏗ ᏓᏃᏈᏏ. ᎯᎠ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎪᏪᎵ ᎠᏆᏟᏌᏅᎯ ᎠᏴ ᎢᎬᏱᏱ ᎠᎩᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗ ᏥᎨᏒᎩ. ᎪᏪᎵᏃ ᏗᎪᏪᎶᏗᏱ ᏗᎦᎫᏍᏓᏯ ᎨᏒᎩ. ᎪᏪᎵᏃ ᎤᏍᏗ ᏗᏟᎶᏍᏙᏗ ᏗᎪᏢᏅᎩ ᎯᎠ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏧᏓᎴᏅᏛ ᏗᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗ ᎨᏒ ᏗᎪᏢᏔᏅᎯ. ᏌᏉ ᎪᏪᎵ ᎤᎵᎬᎭᎸᏛ blue ᎨᏒᎩ. ᏐᎢᏃ ᎪᏪᎵ ᎤᎵᎬᎭᎸᏛ ᎨᏒᎩ.
ᏗᎦᎴᏅᏗᏍᎩ ᏗᏕᏲᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎬᏗᏍᎬᎩ, ᎣᏏᏳ ᎢᏯᏆᎵᏍᏓᏁᏗ ᎨᏒ ᏥᏳ ᎠᏆᏕᎶᏆᏍᎬᎩ ᎦᏬᏂᏍᎬ ᏑᎾᏙᏓᏆᏍᎬᎢ, ᎠᎴ ᎠᏯᎳᏗᏍᏗᏍᎬᎩ ᏩᎦ ᎠᏂᏬᏂᏍᎬ ᎦᏃᏍᎩᏍᎬᎢ. ᎦᏥᎨᏳᎢᏳ ᎠᏆᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗᏱ ᎢᏤ ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ, ᎠᎴ ᏥᏬᏂᏍᎬ ᎪᏪᎸᎢ. ᏗᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎤᎬᏩᎵ ᎤᏟ ᎣᏏᏳ ᎠᎩᏰᎸᏒᎩ ᏫᏨᏲᏪᎳᏁᏗᏱ ᎪᏪᎵ ᎠᎧᎵᏬᎯᏍᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎤᏟ ᎢᎦᎢ. ᎤᏟ ᎣᏏᏳ ᎠᎩᏰᎸᏎᏍᏗ ᎪᏪᎶᏗᏱ ᎨᏒ ᎡᏍᎦᏉ ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ ᏄᏍᏛ ᎠᎩᏕᏲᏅᎢ. ᎤᏙᎯᏳᎯᏍᎩᏂᏃᏅ ᏗᎪᎵᏰᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎣᏏᏳ ᎠᎩᏰᎸᏒᎩ ᏂᎪᎯᎸᎾᏉ ᎬᏉᏪᎶᏗ ᎢᏳᎵᏍᏙᏗᏱ, ᎠᎴ ᎾᏍᏉ ᎪᏪᎶᏗᏱ ᎠᏋᏒ ᎪᎵᎦᏓ ᏗᎪᏪᎶᏗᏱ;
ᎾᏍᎩ ᏅᏓᏳᎵᏍᏙᏔᏅᎩ ᎠᏇᎵᏒᎩ ᏄᏍᏛ ᎦᏓᏅᏖᏍᎬᎢ, ᎠᎴ ᎿᏉ ᎯᎠ ᏥᎪᏪᎳᏅ, ᎣᏂᏱ ᏗᎾᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ ᎢᏳᎵᏍᏙᏗᏱ, ᎠᎩᏍᏆᏗᏍᏗᏱ ᏂᎨᏒᎾ ᎢᏳᎵᏍᏙᏗᏱ. ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ ᎤᎴᏅᎮ ᎤᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗᏱ; ᎯᎠᏃ ᏄᏪᏎᎸᎩ; ᏥᎪ ᏣᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗᏍᎪ ᎯᎪᎵᏰᏍᎬ ᎨᏣᏛᏛᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ? ᎯᎠᏃ ᎾᎩᏪᏎᎸᎩ; ᏔᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ, ᎥᏝ. ᏂᎦᏛᏃ ᏅᏩᎾᏓᎴ ᏗᏕᏲᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎠᎾᎵᏍᏓᏴᎲᏍᎬᎩ ᏏᏌᎵᏱ, ᎠᎴ ᏙᏱᏗᏢ ᎠᏂᏁᎬᎢ. ᎠᎴ ᎠᏆᎦᏌᏯᏍᏔᏅᎩ ᏂᎦᏛ ᎦᏓᏅᏖᏍᎬ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎧᏃᎮᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎤᎬᏩᎵ. ᎯᎠ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎠᎩᏍᏕᎸᎩ ᎢᏯᏆᏛᏁᏗᏱ ᎣᏏᏳ ᎠᎩᏰᎸᏒ ᎠᏆᏕᎶᏆᎥᎢ; ᎠᎩᏍᏆᏗᏍᏗᏍᎩ ᎯᎠ ᎪᏪᎸᎢ ᎠᎴ ᎯᏲᏍᏙᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎪᏪᎸᎢ.
ᎥᎥ, ᎠᎪᎵᏰᏍᎬ ᏂᎪᎯᎸ ᎣᏏᏳ ᎠᎩᏰᎸᏐ ᎠᎩᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗᏱ. ᏂᎪᎯᎸ ᎣᏏᏳ ᎠᎩᏰᎸᎭ ᎢᏤ ᎪᏪᎵᎯ ᎨᏒᎢ. ᎦᎵᎡᎵᎦ ᎠᏆᎦᏔᎲᏍᏗᏱ ᎪᏪᎵ; ᏯᏃᎩᏳ ᎦᏓᎪᎵᏰᏍᎬᎩ ᎠᏆᏟᏂᎬᏁᎰ ᎠᏙᏂᏍᎩ ᎪᎱᏍᏗ ᎬᏋᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗᏱ; ᎠᏍᎪᎯ ᎢᏳᏕᏘᏴᏛ ᏥᎨᏒᎩ poesiᏗ ᎨᏒ ᏕᏥᎨᏳᏒ ᎠᏆᏓᎨᏳᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ; ᎬᏂᎨᏒᎢᏳ ᎦᏓᏅᏖᏍᎪ ᎤᏒᎯ ᏥᏄᏍᏛ, ᎯᏍᎩᏁ ᏂᏣᏛᎿᏕᎬᎢ. ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ, ᎹᏏ Tumpkins, Miles Davis Elementary School; ᎯᎠ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎢᎬᏱᏱ ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ ᏥᎩ, ᎾᏍᎩ ᎬᎩᎾᏄᎪᏫᏎᎸᎯ ᏥᎩ ᎠᏇᎲ ᎤᏃᏪᎵᏍᎩ ᏄᏍᏛ ᎦᏛᎬᎢ. ᎠᏁᎳᏅᎯ ᎨᏒ ᎯᎠ ᏄᏍᏗ, ᎠᏁᏢᏗᏱ ᎦᏓᏟᎶᏍᏗᏍᎩ, ᎠᎴ ᏗᎪᏪᎶᏗᏱ ᎠᏥᏃᎮᏍᎬᎢ. ᎥᏝ ᏱᏥᏅᏔ ᏚᏙᎥ ᎪᏪᎵ, ᎠᎴ ᏚᏙᎥ ᎪᏪᎸᎢ. ᎠᏆᏛᏐᏅᎯ ᎠᎩᏇᏓᎸ ᎠᏆᏕᎶᏙᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ. ᎠᎴ ᏂᎪᎯᎸ ᏥᎾᏰᎲᎩ ᏴᏫ ᎠᎩᏲᎱᎯᏍᏗᏱ; ᎠᎩᏲᏍᏙᏓᏁᎸ ᎪᎯ ᎨᏒ ᎠᎩᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗᏱ.
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎠᏆᏑᏰᏒ ᏗᎪᏪᎵᏍᎩ ᏕᎦᏟᎶᏍᏗᏍᎬ ᏥᎪᏪᎳ. ᎠᏆᏅᏔᏩᏕᎪ ᎤᏬᏰᏂ ᎠᏆᏌᎳᏓᏅᎩ Mrs. ᏓᎻᏆ ᎯᎠ ᎾᎩᏪᏎᎸᎩ; ᎦᏙ ᎤᏍᏗ ᏗᎧᏃᎩᏍᏗ? ᎥᏝ ᎠᎴ ᏱᎪᎵᎦ ᎤᏃᏪᎵᏍᎩ ᎤᏁᎢᏍᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ. ᎥᏝ ᏰᎵ ᎬᏩᎪᏁᎶᏗ ᏱᎨᏎ ᏗᎪᏪᎵᏍᎩ. ᎪᎯ ᎨᏒ ᎢᏯᏍᏗ ᎥᏝ ᎢᎸᎯᏳ ᏱᎬᎩᎪᏩᏛ, ᎠᎴ ᎥᏝ ᏯᏆᏛᎦᏁᎢ. ᎣᏂᏃ Mrs. Tumpkins ᎤᏂᏁᏨ ᎯᎠ ᏄᏪᏒ ᎠᎩᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗᏱ. ᎣᏏᏳ ᎠᎩᏰᎸᏅᎩ ᏥᏨᏲᏪᎳᏁᏗᏱ ᎢᎬᏱᏱ ᏗᎪᏪᎶᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ. ᎪᎯ ᎢᎦ ᎢᏯᏍᏗ ᎠᏆᏅᏓᏗ ᏕᎦᎧᏃᎩᏍᎬ poetry. ᏉᏪᎳᎩᏃ ᏗᎪᏪᎵᏍᎩ, ᎯᎠ ᎾᎩᏪᏒᎩ, ᏆᎶᏓ, ᏓᏲᎦᏛᏁᎵᏒᎭ ᎠᏆᎴᏂᏓᏍᏗᏱ. ᎪᏪᎵᏃ ᎪᏪᎸ ᏄᎬᏫᏳᏒ ᏗᏓᏟᎶᏍᏙᏗ ᎨᏒ ᏥᏍᏆ ᎨᏒᎩ. ᎠᏂᏐᎢᏰᏃ ᏗᏕᏲᏗ ᎨᏒ ᏑᏕᏘᏴᏛ, Mrs. Tumpkins ᎤᏃᎮᎴ ᏗᎧᏃᎩᏍᏗ ᏄᏓᎴᏒ ᏗᎦᎸᏉᏗ ᏗᏃᏪᎵᏍᎩ. ᎢᎸᎯᏢᏃ ᎤᏕᏘᏴᏌᏗᏒ ᎤᎴᏅᎲᎩ ᏥᎦᏪᎳᏅᎩ ᏢᏓᏥ ᏕᎦᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᎸ ᎦᎵᏦᏛᎢ. ᎯᎠ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏗᏕᏲᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎤᎬᏩᎵ ᎤᎵᏠᏯᏍᏔᏅᎩ, ᎠᏓᎪᎵᏰᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎤᎬᏩᎵ, ᎠᎩᏍᏆᏂᎪᏛᎩ ᎠᏋᏒ ᎠᏉᏢᏅᎯ ᎨᏒ ᎠᏋᏒ ᎪᎵᏍᏗᏱ ᏥᎬᏗᎭ ᎧᏁᎬᎢ.
ᏂᏓᏕᏘᏴᎯᏒ ᎡᏥ ᎠᎩᏩᎯᏍᏔᏅᎩ ᎠᏛᏂᏗᏍᎩ. ᎣᏏᏳ ᎠᎩᏰᎸᏅ ᎤᏬᏪᎳᏍᏗᏱ ᎠᏆᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎠᎩᏃᎮᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ, ᎡᎳᏪ ᎤᏅᏅ ᎠᎩᏴᏍᏗᏱ. ᎥᏝ ᏱᏥᎦᏔᎭ ᎢᏳᏟᎶᏛ ᎢᎪᎯᏛ ᎢᏨᏲᏪᎳᏁᎸ, ᎠᎴ ᎡᎳᏪᏱ ᎠᎩᎪᎵᏰᎥᎭ ᏥᏁᎸᎢ. ᎠᏎᏃ ᏂᎦᎥᏉ ᎢᏳᏓᎴᎩ ᎣᏏᏳ ᎬᏩᏰᎸᏗ ᎨᏒᎩ, ᎠᎴ ᎠᎩᎨᏳᎯᏳ ᎨᏒᎩ ᎠᏆᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗᏱ ᎠᎩᎪᎵᏰᏍᎬᎢ. ᎠᏂ ᎠᏆᏅᎸᎢ. ᎠᏴ ᎠᏆᏛᏐᏅᎯ ᎯᏍᎩ ᎣᏣᎵᏅᏟ. ᎣᏏᏳᏃ ᎠᎩᏰᎸᏅᎩ ᎪᎱᏍᏗ ᎠᏆᏠᏯᏍᏙᏗ ᏂᎨᏒᎾ ᎨᏒᎢ. ᎦᏍᎩᎸᏃ ᎢᎦ-ᎦᏛᎩ ᎨᏒᎩ, ᏧᏁᎬ ᎬᎿᎨ ᎬᎿᎨ ᎨᏒᎩ. ᎣᏏᏳ ᎠᎩᏰᎸᏅ ᎠᏨᏍᏙᏗ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎬᎿᎧᎲᎩ. ᏚᎾᎧᎲᏃ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎠᏂᏔᎵ ᏧᏁᎬ ᏚᎾᎧᏍᏓ ᏗᎨᏒᎢ, ᎠᎦᏘᏏᏗᏢᏃ ᎢᏗᏢ. ᎤᏬᏚᎯᏳᏃ ᏗᏓᏍᎩᎶ ᏂᎦᏛ ᎬᎿᎨ ᏧᏁᎩᏳ ᎨᏒᎩ.
ᏥᏲᎵ ᎨᏒ ᎢᏳᏕᏘᏴᏛ ᎠᏂᎦᏔᎲᎩ ᎪᏪᎵ ᎠᏆᏙᎥᎯᏍᏙᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ; ᏕᎦᏕᏲᎲᏍᎬ ᎠᎴ ᏄᎬᏫᏳᏒ ᏗᎾᏕᏲᏗᏱ, ᎣᏏᏳ ᎠᎩᏰᎸᏒᎩ ᎠᏋᏒ ᎠᏆᏒᎦᎸ ᏗᎦᏍᎩᏯᏕᏗᏱ ᎪᏪᎵ ᎠᏆᏤᎵᎦ. 90% ᎪᏪᎵ ᎠᏆᏤᎵᎦ ᎨᏒᎩ. ᎢᎸᏍᎩ ᎢᏳᏓᎴᎩ ᎪᏪᎵ ᎡᏥ ᎠᏁᎮᎢ. ᎤᏟ ᎢᎦᎢ ᏑᎾᏙᏓᏆᏍᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ, ᎦᎶᎯᏍᏗᏱ ᎠᏆᏍᏚᏅᎩ ᎠᎩᏴᏍᏗᏱ, ᎠᎩᏅᎩ ᎠᏆᏕᏃᎲᏍᎬᎢ, ᎠᎴ ᎪᏪᎵ ᎠᎩᎪᎵᏰᏍᎬᎩ, ᎠᎴ ᎢᎸᏍᎩ ᎢᏳᏓᎴᎩ ᎠᏍᏈᏍᎩ; ᎤᏟ ᎣᏏᏳ ᎠᎩᏰᎸᎭ ᏂᎪᎯᎸ ᎪᏪᎵ ᎠᏆᎪᎵᏰᏗᏱ, ᎠᎴ ᏗᎩᏂᏪᏍᏗᏱ, ᎠᏃ ᏙᏱᏗᏢ Ꭶplay; ᎦᎵᏦᏕ ᏯᏆᎪᎵᏰᏍᎨᏍᏗ ᎢᏥᏴᏍᏗᏱ ᎢᎸᏍᎩ ᎢᎪᎯᏛ. ᎡᎳᏪ ᎨᏙᎲᎩ ᎤᎵ ᎾᏍᎩᏯ ᎨᏒᎩ. ᏂᎪᎯᎸ ᏣᎦᏔᏃᏅᎯ ᏥᎩ. ᏥᏯᎵᎡᎵᎦ ᎠᏆᏚᏓᏕᏫᏒᎢ.
ᎠᏰᎵ ᏕᎪᏢᏒ ᎠᎴ ᏄᎬᏫᏳᏒ ᏗᎾᏕᏲᎲᏍᎬ ᎠᏆᏓᎪᎵᏰᏍᎬᎩ ᏕᎦᏃᏣᎶᏆᏛ ᎦᏥᎪᎵᏰᏍᎬᎩ; Mrs. Rustio, ᎡᎩᎵᏏ ᏗᏇᏲᎲᏍᎩ ᎠᎴ ᎢᏧᎳᎭ ᏦᎩᏂᎸᎯ ᎤᎾᏕᏯᏔᏅᎩ, ᎠᎾᏛᎩᏍᎬᎩ poem. ᏗᏂᏕᎶᏆᏍᎩᏂ ᎯᎠ ᎾᏂᏪᏍᎨᏍᏗ; ᏥᎪ ᏔᎵᏁ ᎦᎯᎪᎵᏰᏗ ᏱᎩ? Mrs. ᎷᏏᏇᏃ ᎤᏠᏱ ᎨᏐᎢ. ᎰᏩᏃ ᏕᏥᏙᎬᎩ ᎤᏲ ᎢᏯᏆᎵᏍᏓᏁᎯ ᎠᏂᎦᏔᎲᎢ, ᎦᏓᎪᎵᏰᏍᎬᎩ ᏄᏍᏛ ᎦᏓᏅᏖᏍᎬ ᎠᎴ ᎤᎵᏍᏆᎸᏗ ᎠᏓᏅᏓᏗᏍᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ. 16-岁 ᏄᎵᏍᏔᏅ, ᏄᎬᏫᏳᏒ ᏗᏇᏲᎲᏍᎩ ᎠᏆᏛᏓᏍᏓᏁᎲᎩ ᎪᏪᎵ "Blue ᏧᎾᏄᏩᎢ", ᏥᎦᏛᎦᎲᏍᎬᎩ. ᎤᏣᏘ ᎠᏗᎾ ᎤᏁᎳᎩ ᏥᏰᎵᏎᎭ; ᎠᏎᏃ ᎥᏝ ᏱᎪᎵᎦ ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ ᏓᏆᏙᎥᎢ.
ᏥᎷᏏᎵᏏ ᏗᎦᏘᏲᎲᏍᎩ ᎬᏆᏓᏅᏓᏗᏍᎬᎩ ᏥᎦᏙᎥᎯᏍᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏖᏍᎬᎢ. ᏥᎩᎵᏏ ᏗᏇᏲᎲᏍᎩ ᎠᎩᏁᏤᎸᎩ ᎬᏂᎨᏒ ᎢᏯᏋᏁᏗᏱ poem. ᎤᏣᏘ ᎠᏆᏚᎸᎲᎩ ᎠᏆᏛᎦᏗᏱ ᎯᎠ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏗᎦᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ. ᎯᎠ poem ᏥᏧᏣ ᎨᏒ ᏅᏓᎬᏩᏓᎴᏅᏛ ᎥᏝ ᎢᎸᎯᏳ ᏳᏃᎮᎭ. ᎢᎸᏍᎩᏃ ᎾᏕᏘᏴᎲ ᏥᏲᎵ ᎨᏒᎢ, ᎥᏝ ᏳᏆᏜᏏᏛᎡᎩ ᏥᏯᎨᎵᏎᏗ شاعر ᎠᏆᏚᎵᎭ. ᎠᎴ ᏕᎦᏥᏯᏁᎶᏗ ᎨᏒᎩ ᏗᎧᏃᎩᏍᏗ ᎤᎾᏓᏡᎬᎢ, ᎠᎩᏔᏲᎸᎩ ᎠᏥᏁᏗᏱ ᏗᎦᎶᏗ ᎦᏁᏗᏱ ᎪᏪᎵ ᏗᏆᏤᎵᎦ ᎠᏕᎸ ᎠᎩᏏᏙᏗᏱ. ᎤᏲ ᎾᏆᎵᏍᏓᏁᎸ ᎿᏉ 16 ᎢᏳᏕᏘᏴᏛ ᎨᏒᎢ, ᏥᎬᏆᏁᎶᏔᏅ ᏗᏆᏤᎵ ᏏᏓᏁᎸᎯ ᎤᏲ ᎬᎩᏰᎸᎢ, ᎢᎳᏅ ᏗᏆᏤᎵ ᏏᏓᏁᎸᎯ ᎯᎠ ᎾᎩᏪᏎᎸᎩ, ᎥᏝ ᏱᎬᏉᎵᏥᏙᏁᏗᏱ ᏗᎪᏪᎵᏍᎩ ᎨᏒᎢ. ᎠᏆᏫᏅ ᏂᎦᏛᎦᏅᎾᏃ ᎨᏒᎩ.
(English) My Love of Poetry
My mother homeschooled me, when I was 5 years old. It was at this age, when I fell in love with reading and writing. My mother continuously bought books for me, as I became older. I remember a few of the book characters, such as Dr. Suess, Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, and the Highlights Magazine. This book collection was my very first library. The book shelves were made of hard plastic. The book shelves were designed like some of these story characters. One book shelf was blue. The other book shelf was red.
In elementary school, my favorite assignments were learning vocabulary every week and participating in spelling bees. I love learning new vocabulary and writing definitions. Throughout grade school, it was easy for me to write an essay that was well over 2 pages. It was normal for me to write more paragraphs than what the teacher instructed. For the chapter tests, I would have to continue writing on the back of the test paper and also write my additional paragraphs on notebook paper. Because, I would write a guideline of my ideas, and then actually write the paragraphs, I would be the very last student to finish. The teacher would start to eat her lunch. She would ask, "Are you finished with your test questions?" I responded with "No Ma'am." All the other students were either eating lunch in the cafeteria, or playing outside. I felt that I had to write all my ideas related to the question topic. This helped me to perform at my best academically. I was confident about what I wrote and the prose style that I wrote.
Of course, reading has always been my favorite hobby. I always enjoy the smell of a new book. I enjoy the feel of turning the pages. Reading always takes me on a magical journey. I was 10 years old when I fell in love with poetry. I remember as clearly as yesterday, in the 5th grade. My teacher was Mrs. Tumpkins at Miles Davis Elementary School. She is the very first teacher that introduced me to the existence of poetry. The class assignment was to create a presentation or to write a poem about the story. I do not remember the name of the book or the name of the story. Growing up I had a shy personality. I was always scared to death of public speaking. I avoided the presentation assignment. Instead, I chose to write a poem about the story characters. I remember raising my hand, to ask Mrs. Tumpkins, "What is a poem?" I was not familiar with the definition of a poem. I could not describe a poem. Until this moment, I had never seen or heard one. After Mrs. Tumpkins explained the answer to my question. I was excited to write my very first poem. To this very day, I remember the poem title. I wrote the poem, "Falcon, Falcon" for my class assignment. The main character in the story textbook was a bird. For the rest of the school year, Mrs. Tumpkins read poems by various authors to the entire classroom. It was this particular year that I began writing poems in my diary. This introduction to education about poetry sparked my ability to creativity express myself with words. Each year, my mother bought me a diary. I loved to write my poetry and short stories, in my quiet bedroom. I am not sure how many hours I wrote and read in silence, in my bedroom. But, every moment was well worth it. I loved sitting at my study table. This was in my room. I am the oldest of five siblings. It felt so nice to have something that I did not have to share. The table was light-weight, with a white top trimmed in black. I really liked the black lamp that was attached. I liked the two black shelves that were attached, on the bottom right side. The matching chair was all black with wheels.
During my childhood years, I became obsessed with book knowledge. In middle school and in high school, I was so happy to have my personal library in my own bedroom. 90% of the books were mine. A few of the books belonged to my mother. Most of the weekends, I closed my bedroom door, sat at my study desk, and read a book or an encyclopedia. I always preferred reading or playing chess, than playing outside. I would be reading in my room for hours. I was as quiet as a mouse. I have always been an introvert. I appreciate my personality.
During middle and high school, I read my poems aloud in the classroom. Mrs. Rustio, the English teacher and my classmates became emotional, listening to my poems. The students would ask, "Can you read it again?" Mrs. Rustio would agree. And, so, I stood before the classmates, reading from my imagination and with end-rhyming. At the age of 16, my high school English Teacher listened as I read the poem “Blue Clue”. I really do apologize, but I do not remember my English teacher name. My English teacher was impressed with my poetic skills. My English teacher advised me to publish my poem. I was very excited to hear this advice. This poem from my childhood was never published. During my teenage years, I was very certain that I wanted to become a published poet. I did contact a poetry society, requesting to receive a packet to submit my poems for publication. Unfortunately, at 16 years old, I became influenced by the ill-advise of my family members. My family told me not to publish my poetry. I was young and did what I was told.