A few weeks ago, I had the great honor of teaching the 4^th-grade Poetry unit. I was beyond excited! When I walked into each of our two 4^th grade classes, the students were less than thrilled about the idea of writing poetry. One class actually booed when asked how they felt about starting the unit. I enthusiastically explained my own emphatic love for written word and read a poem that I’d created just for them. I told them that the rap music they listen to is simply poetry with a beat. It was fun watching their little faces absorb that information.

By the end of my lesson, they were excited to write their poems! In the days following, I was often stopped on campus by a novice poet itching to share their work. I felt so proud to be a part of their emotional journeys.

A student named Evangeline wrote the poem that affected me most…

I am not the same 
I never fit in 
I’m happy on the outside but always worries on the inside
I am unique 
But I wish I was a different type of unique 
I am not who I dreamed of 
I don’t have courage 
But I always speak my mind in my  mind 
But then I think 
Maybe I’m not what I call my self
-Evangeline

Although it broke my heart, I was so impressed by her openness and honesty. This was the first poem she’d ever written; she didn’t try to rhyme, didn’t talk about something easy like nature; she bared her soul. What a gift! So, I decided to write Evangeline a response poem…

Evangeline
Greek for Bearer of Good News
Affords shallow pleasantries to the world around her
Concealing a depth of emotion too intimate to share

Accepts her uniqueness but neglects her beauty
Desires to be bolder
Longs to be stronger
Aches for courage

Searching desperately for her voice
Suffocated by the weight and guilt of internal expectation
But, Evangeline - introspection is courageous!
TRUTH IS STRENGTH

Many are bold enough to speak
But few understand the emotions behind the words
They spew shallow, empty lyrics just to fit in
… Please… never change to “fit in”

You wish you were a different type of unique
Yet, I’m honored to have met you just as you are
Cradle your UNIQUENESS, TRUTH, and COURAGE
With loving arms

Keep speaking your mind – even if it’s only IN YOUR MIND
When the words are finally ready to be spoken
… They’ll blow us all away

I printed the poem on beautiful paper and gave it to Evangeline on Friday, after the 4th-grade Poetry Slam. I wasn’t sure how she’d feel, but later that evening, I received this email…

Thank you for the poem!
I found it really inspiring I am really sad that I can’t share anymore poems with you.
So this will not be the last email I send you 🙂 

I realize that helping kiddos fall in love with poetry isn’t exactly the most essential job in the world. But helping them to feel less alone is what I live for! It took years of abuse in kitchens, leaving work so tired I could hardly walk, missing holidays and weddings with loved ones, getting laid off, moving across the country, and surviving a pandemic, but I’ve FINALLY found my bliss!

Like Evangeline, I am also sad that they can’t share their poems with me anymore – since I won’t be at the school next year. But that sadness is eclipsed by my eternal gratitude for the incredible experiences and opportunities I’ve been granted this year. I’m not sure where I’m going next, but as long as I can help our beautiful young people sort their little broken bits, it’ll be blissful.