Saturday, January 23, 2016

THIS POEM IS A BIG RED HEART



This poem is a six year old boy
whose dad and dog both died.
This poem is a crayon.
This poem is a big red heart.

This poem is a sweet and valiant little boy,
who has known tears, but who loves to smile.
This poem gets knocked down, and
bounces back up again.
Like the boomerang, it keeps coming back,
because it has known death, so it cherishes life.
This poem is a six year old boy
whose dad and dog both died.

This poem is a crayon held in a grubby fist
by an intent little boy
who wants to make a picture of his pain.
This poem can draw a stick figure dad
with a big smile, and open arms,
and a devoted droopy-eyed dog,
with floppy ears and an old soul.
This poem is a crayon.

This poem is a gigantic wobbly red heart
with a dog inside, along with the words
"Papa and Phoenix are fishin' in hevven".
This poem squeezes the heart
of his mother, who lost her mate,
then, one year later, held the body
of his old fishing pal as he went to sleep
for the last time.
This poem has lost too many loves,
but keeps on smiling, loving and moving forward,
because of a small boy made almost entirely
out of hope and trust and sweetness and love.
This poem is a large red heart.

A poem from last summer, using Hannah Gosselin's wonderful Boomerang Poem form, which makes writing a poem easy, given a few key ingredients. Shared with Poets United's Poetry Pantry this Sunday where there is always good reading to go with your morning coffee.

32 comments:

  1. This is such a touching poem, Sherry! It has such heart, a big red one. How many losses can one endure? I am glad the boy pictures his dad and his dog 'fishin' in hevven'

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  2. Thanks for reposting this wonderful poem which shows what a poem (and a crayon and paper) can do!

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  3. Aw...Sherry, this poem is an angel too..written with a big red heart...

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  4. Oh I love this Sherry.. The image of a smile and a crayon is so strong.. and such a reason to go on.

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    1. I agree. You chose a great style to present this compelling story of a child's love and anguish.

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  5. Having had the love of dogs in my life how easy it is to relate to this. You would think the Golden Labrador that my younger daughter now has is related to to the one We lost 30 years ago as they have the same temperament. So beautifully sad.

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  6. This poem is also a reflection of your shining heart - not everybody would see that little boy as courageous and valiant..or his mother..it takes wisdom and soul to nourish what is and despite the sadness allow room to move on...this poem is :)

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  7. This poem has lost too many loves,
    but keeps on smiling, loving and moving forward

    Loved this touching poem and oh the boomerang form! Beautifully penned!


    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  8. The poet, too, shows much heart here. This is well done.
    Steve K.

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  9. "This poem squeezes the heart" indeed. And all its pieces make the soul tremble with grief and smile with hope... at the same time.

    Wonderful.

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  10. Sherry, there is definitely a big heart in these words.

    This poem is a crayon.
    This poem is a big red heart.

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  11. Beautifully written packed with emotion
    "This poem is a big red heart"

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  12. I love this form and need to use it soon. Thanks for the reminder with this amazing poem that has me crying uncontrollable tears....for my father and his buddy who we lost so many years ago now...it still crushes my heart. My big red crayon heart!

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  13. this poem really squeezes the heart of any reader.

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  14. I remember reading this. Now, it broke my heart again. I'm sure you've been a blessing to the boy and his mom.

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  15. I remember this one. Still breaks my heart.

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  16. Just gorgeous--and so moving--everything about this piece is perfect

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  17. This poem reminds me of my own, Boy in the Red Swim Suit....thank you Sherry!

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  18. This is a wonderful read, truly. I really admire how you talk about poetry, how it is a living and breathing thing... that gets knocked down, but pops back up. Great work here!

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  19. I can't stop crying, Sherry. This is as good as poetry gets, if you ask me.

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  20. Oh, Sherry. Perfection. Sweet, sweet perfection.
    THIS:
    because of a small boy made almost entirely
    out of hope and trust and sweetness and love.

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  21. This poem is hope in rain boots

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  22. I wish I had written this but I am so glad to be able to read this. "fishin' in hevven"...such glorious hope in such grief. This poem broke my heart, picturing the little boy drawing and his mother, seeing it and reading it. Thank you for this.

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  23. A poignant write Sherry! One just cannot get over such feelings when little kid's emotions are touched on at many levels.

    Hank

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  24. Your poem Sherry is intense, the only thing missing is a HUG
    thanks for dropping in at my Sunday Lime today

    much love...

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  25. One of your best Sherry. Cause I can relate to it so well.

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  26. Simply expressed, sad but hopeful, full of love and awareness

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  27. Many of us, just like the poem of which you write so poignantly, have lost too many loves...

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  28. I do love this form, and you have used it to great effect.

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