Last Saturday, I listened to Andre Gregory of My Dinner With Andre fame on the Moth Radio Hour. He speaks of his first love. Of embracing firsts, because nothing can match the intensity of a first. His story is perfection.
We ask our students to write about firsts. It’s a gathering strategy that results in lots of the first day of school and first scary amusement park ride small moment stories. I’ve used this with students, but never for myself.
Today as a part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge, I dared to try a first.
Prose was overwhelming. My descriptive powers were too weak; the intensity of the moment too big. Perhaps it was that I wanted it to remain in that mythical land of “firsts.”
Poetry surfaced and took me on a different path.
String the Firsts
Day of Kindergarten. Graduation.
Kiss. Breakup.
Exploring on you own. Finding your home.
Embrace. Release.
Bitter and sweet.
Euphoria and panic.
Possibility and promise.
String the firsts.
Unforgettable, side by side.
Golden moments held out.
Or,
is it in the moments,
in the filament,
in between.
String the firsts.
Thanks to Anna, Beth, Betsy, Dana, Stacey and Tara of Two Writing Teachers blog for hosting the Slice of Life March Story Challenge. Read other bloggers slices here.
To Read To Write To Be 
I really like the contrast you create between some of the most significant ‘firsts’ in our lives. When our first child was born, my husband constantly told me I was going to drive myself crazy trying not to miss a first anything, but I think as mothers we instinctively appreciate our children’s firsts so that they, too, may grow to find a special meaning to the first time they experience something new. Thanks for sharing!
Indeed, there are firsts that you don’t think of that hold together the other firsts or made them possible. Love this.
So beautiful! Love this line – “Golden moments held out.”
I loved the line “String the firsts” I wanted to keep seeing it. Great poem, a great idea!
Firsts do include the extremes and I love how you included that dichotomy! Also, excellent use of the word filament. 🙂 Beautiful poem to start my day!! Thanks, Julieanne!
I love this, Julieanne! For some reason, I’m stuck on that word “filament.” Beautiful.
The contrasts and the imagery were lovely
This is beautifully woven, with dualing contrasts teaming together. An amazing “first” in its’ own rite!
Each word in the seesaw of the text is so simple but yet an entire post could be written about the first. Every reader will be taken to their first with your words as a guide. What a cool poem!
Ah, it’s interesting which firsts hold with a person. Some of these firsts I recall easily, others not so much, but the ones I do remember, I remember deeply – especially within the contrasts. Nicely done! And thanks for the memories, even the ones that made me momentarily grit my teeth.
I had the same idea today, Julieanne, trying to express my self through poetry. So liberating, right? Love that this writing challenge gives us the freedom to try new things.
You and Tara are on a beautiful poetry wavelength. Even though you didn’t head in the direction of firsts, I love the poem that emerged out of your almost attempt at a prose-first. You have several lurking stories in this poem!
Sleep over
http://wp.me/p45oL8-1O
I am sorry I posted this in the wrong spot
I love this poem. It feels freeing to me. Keep them coming!
Does this also mean it’s your ‘first’ poem posted? It seems as if you drifted into it. I love the thought that all those “firsts” build on one another, something to share with my students.
If your descriptive powers were weak when you wrote this???? Wow! Great post!
I love that you’ve tried both writing poetry here – and the whole thing of firsts… how many times have I suggested students think of first times to gather ideas for writing. Beautiful post, Julieanne.