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vollmusIt was 1995, and I was six years old, going on seven in just four months. I couldn't sleep, even though it was after nine pm and I had had PE earlier that day, which always used to drain me. I couldn't stop thinking about Reflections.
Reflections was a program my school district used to have for elementary school students to show their talents in artistry of the tongue and of the hand. My friends and teacher had been telling me I should write something for the contest, and I couldn't keep their persuading words out of my head, saying that I had talent and that I should show it to the world.
"Juli, do you think I should make something for Reflections?" My sister was eleven then, and not like anyone else's older sibling - she was wondefully nice to me, and always went out of her way to include me when her friends were over. I can't remember a time in my childhood that she ever yelled at me to go away or leave her alone.
Juli told me that I should, if I wanted to. She then asked me what the theme was: "Just open your eyes and see..."
As soon as I said it, I knew what the first line of my poem was going to be. I grabbed a pencil and a notebook and wrote:
When I finished, I gave it to my teacher to give to the people in charge of Reflections. She gave me a beautiful white ribbon with gold lettering.
I remember using that ribbon as a bookmark for the rest of my elementary school career. I wanted to see it every day; it was so pretty and I was so proud.
I just found that ribbon. That pretty little pure white ribbon, now creased and slightly misshapen, with the gold lettering just as bright as the first day I saw it. I think I'll start using it as a bookmark again. It's lovely.
Reflections was a program my school district used to have for elementary school students to show their talents in artistry of the tongue and of the hand. My friends and teacher had been telling me I should write something for the contest, and I couldn't keep their persuading words out of my head, saying that I had talent and that I should show it to the world.
"Juli, do you think I should make something for Reflections?" My sister was eleven then, and not like anyone else's older sibling - she was wondefully nice to me, and always went out of her way to include me when her friends were over. I can't remember a time in my childhood that she ever yelled at me to go away or leave her alone.
Juli told me that I should, if I wanted to. She then asked me what the theme was: "Just open your eyes and see..."
As soon as I said it, I knew what the first line of my poem was going to be. I grabbed a pencil and a notebook and wrote:
I opened my eyesBut what would the next line be? "What do you first see when you open your eyes?" I asked myself. The sun!
And saw the sunAfter that line I knew what was going to happen in my poem.
I opened my eyes"Juli!" I cried, "Juli, I have my poem! You have to tell me what you think!" I read it to her, and she told me she loved it. The next day I read it to my mom, my dad, my brother, my friends, and my teacher. They all smiled and said that it was good. During art time that day I started to draw pictures to go with each line. I was so happy, everyone liked my poem, and the pictures were coming out great. I couldn't wait to turn it in.
And saw the sun.
I grabbed my coat,
It was time for a run.
I ran the hills,
I ran the trees,
I ran so fast
I felt the breeze.
When I finished, I gave it to my teacher to give to the people in charge of Reflections. She gave me a beautiful white ribbon with gold lettering.
I remember using that ribbon as a bookmark for the rest of my elementary school career. I wanted to see it every day; it was so pretty and I was so proud.
I just found that ribbon. That pretty little pure white ribbon, now creased and slightly misshapen, with the gold lettering just as bright as the first day I saw it. I think I'll start using it as a bookmark again. It's lovely.
