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Open Poetry #7
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Remember Your First Poem?? (new challenge to poets)
| Open Poetry #7 |
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Remember Your First Poem?? (new challenge to poets) |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada 
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This little challenge idea was inspired by Sunshine (hope you don't mind Sunshine). She asked me a little about myself a while back, including when I started writing, and I sent her the first few lines of a poem I wrote when I was about 10 years old (feeling oh so old now ... this is 27 years ago folks). I had a wonderful public school teacher who had us memorize and recite poetry for marks, and for extra credit ... I could write my own. Needless to say, I wrote a few. This is the earliest I could find that I still have on paper, from 1973! Challenge: I'd love to read some of everyone's "earliest works" ... if you can dust off some old writings hidden in closets! Here's mine (please don't be too critical now ... you're speaking to a 10 year old here  ************** What is Life? In a room in the back Of a little red house, Shone a light through a window, Only heard was a mouse. And yet, a small girl, At the age of ten, Wondered why she was born, What is life ... does it end? What is school, but to learn How confusing life is, With proper words, correct spelling What is all this? We compete in the races, The sports and the games, But when its all over, Who has glory and fame? Does the loser for a loss? Does the winner, for a win? Well to lose isn't bad, Not a crime, or a sin. So the little girl thought, If I lose, it's not bad, I'll try harder next time, Then I'll win and be glad. But success will take time, And I know that I can, So when I win, I'll be happy, And be kind to all man! /Kit McCallum (1973) |
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| © Copyright 2000 Kit McCallum - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Kit! This is better than some poetry I've read from adults! Very good, I am impressed. Did your teacher nurture your talent?  |
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Very nice! You were talented even then! Interesting too, we were just discussing this in another poetry forum. I started out writing songs in 1971...I still have it somewhere, but I recall a few lines... Used to be when I'd come to you, you would never run away, now whenever I come around, you never want to stay. That's all I remember... LOL Corinne |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
And yet, a small girl, At the age of ten, Wondered why she was born, What is life ... does it end? What is school, but to learn How confusing life is, With proper words, correct spelling What is all this? ----------------- Kit this is SO GREAT...how cool that you even still have this... and it is very impressive..at 10 you had this much grasp of things and obvious talent. and I LOVE this challenge.. I cant wait to read everyones posts!! I hope many will share and I hope many still have them from so long ago... SHARE SEVERAL IF YOU HAVE THEM!! i'll go see what i can dig up later jm [This message has been edited by Janet Marie (edited 05-31-2000).] |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Poet deVine: He was a wonderful teacher! He asked me to write several poems and I think I never really stopped. We also memorized a lot of the classics, and had to draw pictures beside them in our little books where we'd write them out and get marked for how many lines we recited correctly from memory. I actually still have that little school book with all the pictures and poems. It's a wonderful trip down memory lane ... that's what got me thinking about this and where I found the one above. ~Corinne: That's a wonderful verse Corinne ... did you ever add more to it and put it to music? Can you post some more? I'd love to read more! By the way, I always wondered with music ... do the lyrics come to you first ... or the tune??? ~Janet Marie: I'm sure there were a few really bad ones before this, but if so, they've turned to dust in memory, although my mom and I had a great laugh a while ago, when she came across some Father's Day cards where I'd attempted poetry (7 yrs old or so we figured)... between the 2 of us, we couldn't figure out what the heck I was saying! Pretty poor indeed ...guess dad looked past that though. I can't wait to see some from you Janet Marie! I'll be watching! Much appreciation, /Kit |
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Butterflies_dont_cry Member Elite
since 2000-03-06
Posts 3733Michigan |
Great Challenge!! I love this idea, I'm off to do some dusting  I love your poem as well, you had the heart of a poet way back then even....it was in the stars for you |
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Corazon Senior Member
since 2000-02-02
Posts 1209 |
I used to write in high school, but lost all my work...so no challenge for me....  |
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TerryW Senior Member
since 2000-03-23
Posts 779Louisville, Mississippi, USA |
Kit~ Very, very good! I like the way you think, even back then! Thank you so much for sharing this one with us!!!!! Love YA!~ ~you reached inside, you touched my heart, and I am all the better for it~ Terry A. Woodson, Jr. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
How wise you were Kit, and so full of questions...I loved seeing this poetry from your youth. I have one of mine that I wrote when I was seventeen...and that was...sigh..a long time ago. [This message has been edited by Martie (edited 05-31-2000).] |
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Irie Senior Member
since 1999-12-01
Posts 1493Washington State |
Oh how I'd love to respond to this challenge, but my book of poetry was lost several years ago. And I never did start a new one. The best I could do is re-post the first poem I ever posted here. Such talent for a 10 year old by the way! This was great! |
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Elizabeth
Moderator
Member Ascendant
since 1999-06-07
Posts 6871Minnesota |
Sounds like you started off on the right foot, Kit! Glad to see that you kept at it. I have my very first poem posted here somewhere...I'll bring it back up for you, think that it's in OP#6. Elizabeth "He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!" -The Crucible |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
WOW! I'm truly amazed ... I've just spent ages reading through many people's early works, and you can really see how much inspiration everyone had from the beginning. What a wonderful response, and what talent! ~Butterflies: Thank you so much, and thank you for posting your early poem ... it was a truly touching poem. ~Corazon: I've lost lots of mine along the way ... I've got them all backed up now in paper and diskette! Wish we could have read something from your early days though. ~Terry: Thanks so much! I seem to be questioning life right from the beginning ... guess I kept up the pattern! ~Martie: I don't know about wise on this one Martie ... I was just talking to mom, and asked her if she remembered this one ... she says "Oh yeah, you just lost a volleyball game, and blew your spelling test" ... pretty big deal at 10 I guess! I'm amazed she remembered. Thank you so much for posting yours as well Martie ... you were born a poet! ~Irie: Thanks for the lovely comments! That's so sad that you lost everything Irie. I have a few old school books, and books I used to call my "Nothing Books". Each Christmas, I'd get a bound book full of nothing but blank pages ... it was my job to fill them ... and fill them I did, with poems and drawings. I somehow haven't lost them "yet"... ~Elizabeth: I'll be watching for it Elizabeth! Looking forward to the read! Much appreciation for everyone's talents and sharing so many wonderful early poems, /Kit |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
You had great talent even at 10! Denise |
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tracie66 Member Elite
since 2000-01-18
Posts 4713Australia |
Kit~ You were obviously born to write poetry, this is fantastic and from a 10 year old...WOW Tracie~ p.s my early pieces were nothing compared to this. Love is the life of the soul... It is the harmony of the universe |
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
Kit.... such insight and wisdom and searching questions for the tender age of ten! Clearly, God gave you a talent which you discovered early on! I love this! oh... and i have my first poem memorized... wrote it when i was 15... i'll post it here Thanks for a kewl challenge! |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Denise: Thanks Denise ... this has been fun! ~Tracey: If I could remember or dig up some of the one's prior to this ... you may not be saying that, lucky they're hidden in mom's closet! LOL ~Doreen: I loved your poem ... I had to memorize mine for school, so it just stuck, even after all these years (and yes, I'm still asking the same questions I fear!) Thanks Doreen! Much appreciation to all for making this so much fun ... I've found about 15-20 have posted their early works so far! /Kit [This message has been edited by Kit McCallum (edited 06-01-2000).] |
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SEA 
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
Kit~ I loved your poem! What a fun challenge! I haven't been writing at all lately, just too much going on..... I have my first poem, I was 13. I'll post it! Thanks for a great challenge, SEA |
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netswan Senior Member
since 2000-03-28
Posts 1369Washington |
Wow KIT that was very good ---- I started writing at 8 -- Yours is wonderful - heck better than many grown up can write. My middle son wrote me a poem when he was ten -- GOSH got to share LOL "In the morning when I awaken I think of you when it rains, then too In the night when I sleep I dream of you in the afternoon, too When I am at school I day dream about you I get in trouble, too It doesn't seem to matter whether I am good or badder when I think of you out of the cage of my mouth your name flies forth MOM! _matthew john~age ten then - who will be a father in about 3 months. ~netswan [This message has been edited by netswan (edited 06-02-2000).] |
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killer222 Junior Member
since 2000-04-06
Posts 48Northolt,Middlesex,England |
A great challenge, I have enjoyed reading the responses.. ..and ofcoure yours, your talent showed from a young age "shun the frumious Bandersnatch!" Killer222 :) |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Sea: It's been so much fun reading so many of everyone's early poems ... as they say ... "we've come a long way baby" ... thanks Sea! ~Netswan: Your son's poem is terrific! Thanks for typing it out Netswan ... I love his ending, and at age 8 no less! Excellent! ~Killer: Thanks! It has been fun reading everyone's first attempts ... especially knowing we've all come a ways since then! Much appreciation to all for making this so much fun! I've been back to work this week so haven't had a lot of time to read as much as I'd like to ... Saturday tomorrow ... reading glasses are coming out! Best wishes, /Kit |
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