Your First Poem

 Hi Koko, 

So this morning was fun! You and I were just sitting and getting bored, when we came across a great article on my very favorite author Kurt Vonnegut. In 2006, the English teacher Ms. Lockwood gave an assignment to the students to write to their favorite authors. No one responded except Kurt.   

This was his letter:

His letter ends in typical Kurt style asking the students to write a poem - 6 lines about anything but rhymed. We did that and laughed so much. While Kurt urges us to enjoy just the act and it would be "gloriously rewarding" in itself and it was, I just cannot tear up the first poem you have written and discard it into trash. This is for your future reference:

I play football, 

Sometimes, I fall

Then I walk down the hall

At the humungous mall,

I twinge in pain

I see a man with a cane,

Limping his way

What's he got to say?

So I go and ask him,

Are you Jim?

And the man answers

I'm just a lowly freelancer.

Living with my son-in-law

Every day the food is raw,

I don't know why i stay with him

Every day we're on the brim,

Of exploding into a fight

Just because I switched on the light,

I don't know why I'm talking to you

It's like I'm trying to start anew

Almost as if I want to break free

And just flee. 

Goodbye child,

Don't forget to always be wild. 

Then suddenly I forget my pain

Because I saw someone else's gain.

I am super proud, touchwood!

Love,

Ma