March 20, 2009

Now I’m happy

Ceropegia monteroiae flower - Smiley Face by Martin_HeiganIn honor of World Poetry Day (March 21), I’d like to share a poem I wrote when I was 9 years old:

Happy

Now I’m happy,
really happy,
I’m really having fun,
hopping, skipping,
jumping, running,
yelling to everyone!

“Happy” actually won an honorable mention award in a national poetry contest (not bad for a fourth-grader). Watch out, Walt Whitman …

Although I’ve gotten away from writing poetry, I still enjoy reading it very much. And I’ll be sure to take some time on March 21 to read some of my favorite poems by Emily Dickinson, Shel Silverstein, and Billy Collins.

Here’s wishing you all a “Happy” World Poetry Day!

* Filed by rebecca at 11:56 am under For the love of words

14 Responses to “Now I’m happy”

  1. Urban Panther
    March 20th, 2009 | 5:00 pm

    Shel Silverstein … YES! Actually, my adult daughter hauled Where The Sidewalk Ends off the bookshelf the other day and read the poems to her boyfriend. My personal favourite is And The Bagpipe Did Not Say No …. ai-oooga! *grin*

  2. rebecca
    March 20th, 2009 | 7:20 pm

    Oh, that’s a good one, Panther. My favorite is “If I had a Brontosaurus.” Growing up, I loved dinosaurs — and I still do!

  3. Beth
    March 20th, 2009 | 8:37 pm

    Where the Sidewalk Ends is my all-time favorite baby shower book, and I have it on my own shelf.

    But I ADORE your poem. I’m going to share it with my Twitter friends. It made me happy. Truly.

  4. rebecca
    March 21st, 2009 | 6:00 pm

    Thanks, Beth! That’s very sweet. Looking back, I love the innocence and simplicity of “Happy.” :)

  5. TESS
    March 23rd, 2009 | 12:51 pm

    well in fourth grade, who’s not happy!? we didn’t know anything then which, i believe, accounts for the happiness we felt. wow! I’m Debbie Downer,eh? LOL i love your peom, beck.

  6. rebecca
    March 23rd, 2009 | 5:22 pm

    Tess: I completely agree! Innocence is bliss. Ah, to be 9 again …

  7. steph
    March 23rd, 2009 | 8:33 pm

    My beard grows to my toes/I never wears no clothes/I wraps my hair around my bare/and down the road I goes.

    That’s what I remember of Shel Silverstein, aside from The Giving Tree.

    I love the poetry of Al Purdy (who actually lived about a half hour or so from here, in Ameliasburg). Ever read him? I met him a couple of times at readings in Hamilton, long before I’d ever heard of Belleville (though he wrote about the area). He died in 2000.

    PS. I love your poem. I think this is the kind of happy we were talking about a few days ago. :)

  8. TESS
    March 24th, 2009 | 10:10 am

    I CAN NOT read The Giving Tree! CAN NOT! It’s sooooo sad : (

  9. rebecca
    March 24th, 2009 | 1:02 pm

    Ha! I love the beard poem, Steph! Silverstein was such a special poet, influencing children and adults alike. I don’t know of Al Purdy, but I’ll definitely check him out.

    When I posted this poem I immediately thought of our recent discussion about true happiness and your comment on how you see it most often in children. “Happy” is a prime example of that giddy happiness that few adults achieve. How I envy that youthful naivete …

  10. rebecca
    March 24th, 2009 | 1:04 pm

    Tess: Don’t even get me started. The tears will start flowing just thinking about that story!

  11. steph
    March 25th, 2009 | 5:55 pm

    For a great sampling of Purdy’s work, your library might have Beyond Remembering, his collected works, divided by decade. I read most of his stuff in university, and when I read it now, it really brings back a special time, among other things!

  12. rebecca
    March 26th, 2009 | 5:48 pm

    Thanks, Steph! I’ll check it out for sure -

  13. Pam
    April 2nd, 2009 | 11:55 am

    Becca,
    I will never forget you writing that poem, it makes me happy just thinking about it!!!!!!!!
    xoxo

  14. rebecca
    April 2nd, 2009 | 4:58 pm

    Thanks, Mom! Hope it makes you smile all these years later. :D

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