Today’s model poem is Won’t You Celebrate With Me by Lucile Clifton. You can click the link to read the original poem.
I have a lot of energy wrapped up in this draft and I need to let it set before I rework. This came out in a white, hot heat. Here’s my first draft of poem modeled in the same style.
Celebrate With Me
won’t you celebrate with me
what I have become
a woman strong and brave
enough to speak her mind,
usually,
a wife, a lover
daughter, mother
a friend to few
I hold dear
a non-friend
to some
for reasons I don’t understand
born into confusion
about how to become
myself
how to trust I had
arrived
in all my glory
before barreling past
my destination
forgetting
not knowing
I was enough
I am enough
I AM ENOUGH
come celebrate
with me that
I have climbed
my mountains
cheered the sunrise
knowing, knowing
yes
I am stronger
at all the broken places.
—Susan Taylor Brown
Very “I am woman, hear me roar!” This would be a great performance piece, Susan!
Thanks, Irene. You know, I should be recording these on Soundcloud at the same time. Thanks for making me think of that!
I love the finding yourself in a poem, a mission statement, a sense of power, honesty, regret, observation and courage. I will ponder and try to write later. Night seems to be my better writing time. When the to do list is complete and I can zone in. I am loving NPM at your blog, Susan.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with, Janet!
It’s a good poem to help begin the month Susan. I love the final lines, “I am stronger at all the broken places.” I like your project idea, Susan. It will be such fun to see.
Thanks, Linda. I might have bitten off more than I can chew this month. I’m having trouble find short poems to model and I don’t know if I have the time for the long ones but we’ll see how I do.
WON”T YOU CELEBRATE WITH ME
Although sometimes it is hard
To find meaning and purpose
My life has been full of obstacles
To conquer then move on
Character building in the extreme
Making me who I am today
Determined to succeed
Living one day at a time
I try to remember each day
All the beautiful things I have
My family , my friends
All those I hold dear
That in itself should be enough
Is it though really? I think not
I need to find me, the real me
The person I feel inside
Then and only then
Am I able to say
With true conviction
Won’t you celebrate with me !
– Anne McKenna
Yes!!! Turn that mirror on yourself and celebrate!