I Am: Mindful Poetry
My youngest son, Clark, who is 12 years old at the time of this recording, was given the task of writing a poem for his 7th grade language arts class. Each of three stanzas repeat the opening line that begins, “I am . . .” each student to follow with what state of mind or sense of how they are currently feeling. In between, the lines in each verse begin with a prompt that explores the nuances and factors that describe the initial “I am” statement.
Clark’s final product was quite insightful, so I asked him to read it for us today.
I am. By, Clark Snyder
I am stressed out
I wonder if there will ever be someone to help me up when the
world keeps pushing me down
I hear my friends laughing at my jokes
And I see my friends growing up around me
I want all of my worries to vanish
I am stressed out
I pretend i’m laid back so my friends don’t worry
I feel like people care too much about me
I touch the door to my house and know that i’m home
I worry about my friends a lot
I cry when someone dies
I am stressed out
I understand that nothing can just stop randomly
I say that it’s all gonna stop
I know that it ain’t though
I dream that everything is perfect and peaceful
I try to be funny because I know it makes other people happy
I hope the other people like me can get to live a good life
I am stressed out
My first response is to be saddened, and maybe a bit alarmed by my son’s stress and admission to pretense in the guise of humor. Clark is exceptionally gifted with intelligent wit, and he does, indeed, make us happy by making us laugh. At the same time, he also admits that he feels better, too, when people laugh and that the poem is a creative work, not entirely as grim as it might seem.
But I thought it is a very good mindfulness exercise to use the poetic prompts to consider either your own state of mind, body and soul – or observe someone else’s (your child, spouse, friend, co-worker).
Listen and consider as I provide some of the prompts. If you are able to write them down, please feel free to do so. If not, just listen to your own spirit and allow creativity (God’s very character impulse within) to shape and transform you in these moments.
I am . . .
I wonder . . .
I hear . . .
I want . . .
I am . . .
I pretend . . .
I feel . . .
I touch . . .
I worry . . .
I cry . . .
I am . . .
I understand . . .
I say . . .
I know . . .
I dream . . .
I try . . .
I hope . . .
I am . . .
You can find Clark’s poem and a transcript of this podcast on my website, eirenicole.com.
And today, may you walk at the pace of grace.
