The Wednesday Poetry Corner With Jacinta Caplan

 

Angel By Cleber Pacheco

Introducing Jacinta Caplan to the plum tree. Jacinta  submitted this very powerful poem for the Plum Tree Book’s Poetry anthology on MOTHER! I love her poetry and her ability to express so much in so few words. Thank you Jacinta. Art work is by the fabulous Cleber Pacheco. There is still time to submit yours to niamhclune@plumtreebooks.co.uk.

 

The Search

I look for my mother

every day

and every night.

To brush my hair,

sit at my table,

light the candles.

I listen for her eyes

every day

and every night

To speak wise and

witty, stern and sweet.

Still, I look for her.

My mother looked

for her mother.

My father was

also looking for

his mother.

As you will look

every day

and every night.

until you too are

stilled

(c) 2014 Jacinta Camacho Kaplan

 

About Dr Niamh

When I was a little girl (a very, very long time ago), I used to love learning new, really big words like ‘discombobulate’. As I grew, my love of words grew too, until I loved them so much, I could not stop writing them down. One day, as I was scribbling a particular word, a very peculiar thing happened. The word shouted at me, “Stop! Don’t put me there!” As you can imagine, I was shocked and nearly fell off my chair. When I recovered somewhat, I said to the word, “Could you stop shouting, please? I am not used to it.” Can you guess what happened next? No! I thought not. The word said, “I might be small, but I will misbehave if you do not use me properly. I will not tell the story you would like me to tell. I will say something entirely different!” I dropped my pen. I hoped that by dropping my pen, the word would stop talking. Alas! It did not. It carried on chitterchobbling, even after the ink had dried. I was in a pickle. I could not allow my words to run away with my story, now could I? I don’t know about you, but when this sort of thing happens, there is only one thing left to do if you prefer not to spend your time arguing. “Very well,” said I. “I will do as you ask if you will just be quiet and allow me to concentrate.” Since that day, I have been paying special attention to every word I invite into my stories. After all, a story should say exactly what it means to say and not be led astray. With love from Dr. Niamh, Ph.D in Learning Through The Imagination and Founder of Dr Niamh Children's Books. www.drniamhchildrensbooks.com

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