Picture by disneymike
Today I competed in Poetry Out Loud at my school. I won for my classroom as did Jacob and his friend (also becoming my friend... sort of, in a weird way) Sydney. Both of them are amazing at reading poetry, of course, just as they are at writing it. I was pretty sure I had both of my poems that I had to recite pretty much down today.
The first was Peach By Jennifer Tonge. It's a really amazing poem with so much sybolism and insinuation... I love it. However, it does not love me. Just as winter does not love Finny and his crutches in A Separate Peace (a book I finished recently and actually really enjoyed), Peach does not love me. In fact, it completely screwed me over. I forgot it totally and completely even after memorizing it for over an hour straight last night and repeating it a million times today. I could say it. I had it. But when I got in front of the judges' table made up of teachers and staff I knew well, all the words ran from my mind about midway through. I had to ask for a line about five times. Jacob won. Sydney got second with no effort at all. I got nothing.
I put on a smile. I was happy for them, really, I was. But after 3rd place last year, this year, I got nothing. Nothing. I was devastated.
I came home and laid in bed. I let it all out. Both the rents tried to convince me to go to dinner for great report cards from my siblings and I, but I just wanted to stay home. Then I had a sushi craving. So I went.
At the end of dinner I got a fortune cookie and as is tradition, my family went around the table sharing theirs. Mine said this:
"Your emotional nature is strong and sensitive."
Coincidence? I think not. It was pure fortune cookie magic. Well played, you little piece of dough, well played.
P. S. The second poem I recited was The Minefield By Diane Thiel. Just in case anyone cares to know.
