From Memory Lane…
As far as I can remember, my love of creating with words all started in fourth grade, although my love of reading began in kindergarten.
In fourth grade, I would write simple stories (mostly featuring Snoopy characters) and illustrate them on sheets of paper laid out horizontally and then stapled in the center. My fourth grade teacher must have been quite impressed with them, because she asked if she could show them to someone, but I never got them back.
My first song was created by singing into the tape recorder that I got for my birthday from my Moudry grandparents; it was called “I Love My Life.” I don’t remember the lyrics anymore, but it sparked a love of writing poetry and song lyrics.
I mostly resolve my innermost thoughts and feelings this way; through music, or poetry set to music. I had a file folder full of songs I’d written as a teenager, but they were destroyed by a dog while in storage at my mom’s farm in the 90’s.
I wish I still had all of it! How satisfying it would be to look back on everything.
Fourth grade is when I also wrote a poem that was published in the local newspaper. I had originally written it for my mother, but changed “Mother” to “Grandma” to honor my great-grandmother’s birthday that year.
I still remember it clearly:
Grandma Dear,
Just look in the mirror
And you’ll find your face
And your heart like lace.You’re like a doll
That wears a shawl
So warm and sweet,It’s a treat,
To have you as my grandma.
Simple and basic, but hey, I was only 11 years old. 😉