Poetry Class Assignment Three: Grandpa's Gift

I enrolled in a poetry class this semester and now that it is almost over I can post my final versions of the assignments. Writing poetry by assignment is not always easy and often doesn't come out as well as one would like, but I managed to enjoy it anyway. This is the response to the third assignment: think of an item from your childhood and how you may now see it differently.

Grandpa’s Gift

1986:

What was he thinking?

Doesn’t he know I’m 12?

I was in the gift exchange this year --

That fact alone should be a clue.

I’m 12,

I don’t play with little girl things.

I’ll never use it –

Well, except to make Mom happy.

She’s so proud of it.

But she knows I’m 12 –

Old enough to know

How to graciously accept

What seems a not so thoughtful gift.

It’s not the end of the world.

There will be other gifts this year.

Better gifts.

2006:

His hands made this

And only I,

Of all the grandkids,

got one.

And I did play with it.

My niece played with it as well --

Properly, as a little girl should.

I pray one day my own little girl will play with it –

Perhaps it will get handed down

To a grandchild and great grandchild.

For now, it sits in a corner

Dressed with doll and lacy afghan

Waiting.

Other gifts, I don’t even remember.

Thank you Grandpa,

For the handmade doll cradle.

Comments: 7

Monica Kennedy Dec 4, 2007, 5:40pm EST

Thanks Amy! I will finish out pretty well, I think. I should get an A in the poetry class, in my Marriage and Family class, and in my Art Therapy class. I am not sure what my final grade will be in History or Statistics - pray they will be good! Statistics is kicking my butt!