I fancied myself a bit of a poet from my preteen years until my early twenties. (I believe we've gone over this a few times before, like here and here for starters.) The mid to late eighties material sits safely in the pages of my flannel fabric covered book.
The early eighties stuff though? That stuff was deemed too risky by an angsty teenager to have laying around where it could someday be found. I threw that fanciful floral covered book in the garbage. Gasp! I know there was a poem I wrote for my sister when she was a baby, and I am sure it was fantastic (insert sarcasm font), but I do not recall any other muses I had back then. Rest assured though, I am certain the quality of all of the poems was horrendous. I'm not even going to try to make myself feel better by making considerations for my young age or ambition. Instead, I was just grateful nobody would ever have to consider the material again! Unfortunately, that young girl had no sense of what joy that fodder could provide for me decades later. But then...
There I was one afternoon, doing whatever it is I typically do to avoid housework, when a Facebook messenger alert sounded. Knowing instantly that it had to be something important, I ran to my phone. A message came asking if I was the Andrea that went to Stonehedge Elementary school, because if so, the sender was a really good friend of mine in sixth grade. Indeed, that was me. She said she had something to show me that she had just found...
I am going to save you the trouble of trying to decipher my, albeit awesome, cursive writing. (Moment of silence for that dying art.) Here is what it says...
Amy's Poem
Amy's ways will be missed by everyone
You helped many soccer games be won
Science class will turn rotten overnight
Because without Amy, nothing seems right
There will still be Margaret, Heidi, Kelly and everyone
But nobody else is full of laughs and fun
This poem is very true
When Amy leaves we'll all be blue
I hope I see her agaiin
Becuse she's a really terrific friend.
To Amy,
You're one of the best friends I've got
Keep this poem and I'll appreciate it a lot!
P.S. Thanks for keeping me laughing. I'll still think of you even if you don't keep this long. Just don't immediately throw it out, alright?
First things first, I should probably issue a public apology to Margaret, Heidi and Kelly. A girl's gotta rhyme though, am I right? Besides, it's not like they saw this work of art, as I surely slipped the paper to Amy privately. Oh wait, another message from Amy came through to tell me that her notes indicated that I read this poem over the loudspeaker on her last day at our school before moving. Who on earth did I think I was? Did I use up a lifetime of confidence on that morning? I was fairly certain she was mistaken, but did not say so because she had such documentation. As I sit here now though, months later, I do have some recollection of walking down the hall and also being near the microphone.
By the way, I can't even be mad about the condition of the loose leaf paper, nor question that stain on it. It is from 44 years ago!
I hope this story amuses you even half as much as it does me. I know there is someone who might still read this blog who has one of my masterpieces in her high school yearbook! (Hi Greta!) Perhaps some of you would like me to write an ode to you? I can take requests and promise the same level of craftsmanship.
