Proud Mother

[Alexandra831]

My 14yr old son told me the other day that he was going to sign up to take part in (Poetry Out Loud). He may not win to place for his school, or for our city, he may not take states or go to Nationals. However he is already a Winner in my mind.

It takes guts to get up in front of many people and recite a poem by heart. My son is socially akward and usually stays away from social events such as this.

He will be reciting the poem " Harlem".

Does anyone else have children participating in this at their school or have they had a child in the past participate?

 

[Alexandra831]

I hope you all don't think this is an incest thread because it so isn't

 

[Kruge]

Congrats!

It does take a lot of guts for kids to do public speaking at that age. He is definitely a winner even just for trying.

 

[Alexandra831]

Congrats!

It does take a lot of guts for kids to do public speaking at that age. He is definitely a winner even just for trying.

Thanks.. I sure think so too.

 

[Alexandra831]

Harlem
Harlem
By Langston Hughes 1902–1967 Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?


Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?


Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.


Or does it explode?

 

[CandiCame]

Congrats!

I don't have any kids, but it's nice to see someone who lets their kids be themselves and supports them. God, it would have been great to be able to walk onstage instead of being pushed.

 

[Sonnys_Big_Head]

Harlem
Harlem
By Langston Hughes 1902–1967 Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?


Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?


Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.


Or does it explode?

For some reason I can't get Proud Mary out of my head.

Couldn't he do sports?

 

[Angellica1612]

That's awesome. Good for him!

 

[Alexandra831]

Congrats!

I don't have any kids, but it's nice to see someone who lets their kids be themselves and supports them. God, it would have been great to be able to walk onstage instead of being pushed.

I took some drama, to help me out of my shell in high school. It worked a little. I still do not like to be the center of attention though. I let all my kids be who they want to be.

My son who is doing this poetry thing. Use to come home every day after school when he first started ( elemantery school). He would be so upset because kids were teasing him. Why you ask? Because he loved the color pink, it is still his favorite color today. I told him when he asked me if pink was a girls color. No sweety god intended for everyone to enjoy all the colors. It helped him. I told him to be proud, because more guys like the color pink but they are to afraid to admit it.

 

[Alexandra831]

For some reason I can't get Proud Mary out of my head.

Couldn't he do sports?

He loves to swim. He isn't as cordinated as others. So he doesn't care for sports to much.

 

[CandiCame]

I took some drama, to help me out of my shell in high school. It worked a little. I still do not like to be the center of attention though. I let all my kids be who they want to be.

My son who is doing this poetry thing. Use to come home every day after school when he first started ( elemantery school). He would be so upset because kids were teasing him. Why you ask? Because he loved the color pink, it is still his favorite color today. I told him when he asked me if pink was a girls color. No sweety god intended for everyone to enjoy all the colors. It helped him. I told him to be proud, because more guys like the color pink but they are to afraid to admit it.

Yeah- there's a LOT of stuff we aren't allowed to like because of our homophobic culture.

My mom really wanted me to be an actor- despite how unrealistic that is. I hate drama and everything associated with it. My brother's working on his broadcasting degree.

 

[Latina49]

That's fabulous...congratulations! I know that's difficult for shy, socially awkward children...this could be his big break through.

 

[Alexandra831]

He is really excited. He loves the poem " Harlem". He did really want to do Edger Allen Poes " The Raven" but its not on the list of approved poems.

 

[Latina49]

I think that's awesome and that it's more so because you are encouraging him...I bet he's proud of you too

 

[CandiCame]

He is really excited. He loves the poem " Harlem". He did really want to do Edger Allen Poes " The Raven" but its not on the list of approved poems.

There's an approved list of poems and America's best-known, arguably greatest poet isn't on it?

This is one of the reasons that I hate teaching.

 

[BossMan62]

I was the same way when I was a kid, I hated the spotlight, still do as an adult. You have a reason to be a proud mother, I wish him luck with the poem.

 

[Angellica1612]

There's an approved list of poems and America's best-known, arguably greatest poet isn't on it?

This is one of the reasons that I hate teaching.

I read Poe as a child and it didn't turn me into a psychotic killer. A lot of poetry is dark - wonder why they torpedoed Poe?

 

[KRCummings]

Speaking in public is all about how you feel about yourself. If you have confidence in yourself then it's not a problem. If you don't care how others see you then it's not a problem. If you can laugh at yourself it's usually not a problem.
I have found that almost every single person who has a fear of speaking in public has low self esteem or is preoccupied with how others perceive them.
I don't think everyone is aware of this in themselves and many will tell themselves they are exactly the opposite.

Next I will tell you why you like to smoke cigars while looking at pictures of your mother in a bikini.

 

[KRCummings]

There's an approved list of poems and America's best-known, arguably greatest poet isn't on it?

This is one of the reasons that I hate teaching.

Nobody argues that Poe was Americas greatest poet unless they're a complete moron and...oh. Never mind.

 

[CandiCame]

Nobody argues that Poe was Americas greatest poet unless they're a complete moron and...oh. Never mind.

Who's your favorite American Poet?

 

[KRCummings]

Who's your favorite American Poet?

I don't have one. I can however probably name a dozen American poets all universally considered better than Poe.

 

[CandiCame]

I don't have one. I can however probably name a dozen American poets all universally considered better than Poe.

Poe's my favorite American poet- hell, he's my favorite gothic poet- and Elliot's my favorite English poet. I know art, not English. But I do think that the vast majority of Americans think 'American Poets' and Poe pops up pretty quick. It just seems an odd poet to not have on a list of poets for a high-school thing. It still strikes me as odd.

 

[JohnnySavage]

I like Clive Cussler.

 

[KRCummings]

Poe's my favorite American poet- hell, he's my favorite gothic poet- and Elliot's my favorite English poet. I know art, not English. But I do think that the vast majority of Americans think 'American Poets' and Poe pops up pretty quick. It just seems an odd poet to not have on a list of poets for a high-school thing. It still strikes me as odd.

She said The Raven wasn't on the list. And who's Elliot? There's an Eliot but you'd think if he was your favorite you'd know how spell his name. And he was born in America.

 

[KRCummings]

I like Clive Cussler.

Never read him. Maybe some day. I'm finishing up the Reacher series right now. Maybe it's because I'm reading them all at once but I find Child uses the same words over and over and over. It's maddening. The kind of thing you might not notice if you're reading them once a year as they're published though.
Anyway, never read Cussler.