Poetry for Young Writers

By Michelle Read   Publisher’s note: Michelle Read, our poetry for young writers columnist is 10 years old.  She is writing these columns to encourage all young people who want to write. michelle.read@telecommand.com.

In this article I will, once again, include a poem and explain how I came to write it.  My hope is that the place where I find inspiration might encourage you or give you ideas to begin writing.

                                                            Free

                                    What is free? Free is the eternal

                                    Line of the curling waves of sea.

                                    Free is the everlasting growth of

                                    A plant, history hidden like a

                                    Forgotten door deep within it’s

                                    Strong branches or plentiful fruit.

                                    Free is the gallop of a wild horse,

                                    Muscles pushing forward out of

                                    Strong determination, each gallop

                                    Of hooves continuing with no force

                                    Steady and rapidly on its own course.

                                    Free is the spread of an eagle’s

                                    Gold- entwined wings and the release

                                    Of its flight as it soars the sky:

                                    Worthy of radiance, beauty, and blue light.

                                    Never to be forced, never to be

                                    Contained, and never to be tame,

                                    This is how freedom will remain.

            I wrote this poem because when I see something free in nature like a galloping horse or a cow grazing in a pasture I feel as free and undisturbed as they. It is a wonderful feeling to feel so free. The horse or cows don’t even seem bothered by the rest of the world. They just continue grazing or galloping without a care in the world, with no dilemmas or stressful situations to trouble them. Hardly any of us feel that very often because we, unlike the horse and cow, have work to finish in a certain length of time. I decided to write “Free” to capture this feeling of freedom so that I could feel it whenever I read it. Feeling is very important in writing poetry.

            I have some news. My family and I are going to one of the seven natural wonders of the world. You guessed it; we are going to the Grand Canyon. We are also going to Zion National Park and Bryce National Park. During our vacation, my family and I will be writing poetry in our notepads and journals. My writing plan for the trip is to carry a notebook as we hike into Havasu Falls – eight miles. As we stop to rest, I can write what I feel amongst the beauty. I think this will help me to forget my sore feet and the words will be my snapshot of what I see. Just as you take a picture or paint a landscape, I write a poem to capture the feeling.

I’ll share what I find there upon my return.

If you will be traveling or enjoying special times this summer, remember to use your writing to capture your experiences.