True Talent or Stupid Kid
Mood:  irritated
Topic: People
Ok, there is something that bothers me about teachers. Basically, they do not look for students who show original talent. Instead they look for students who can mimic or "appreciate" what scholars call "true art." Example: The following poem I wrote in the 6th grade.

Ode to this Poem
Write a poem
about what
so many things
to write about
I don't know where to start

So many Places
So many subjects
Should i make it rhyme
or not
frustrated I am
to much to think about
that's it! I quit! I'm done!

Ok, granted It's not something you hear from Shakespeare, but come on. Look at the poem. Read the poem. Try to use your brain and figure out how the words are suppose to flow. I agree the arrangement lacks, and it does kinda throw you off a little (even considering that I know how to recite the poem and it still catches me). But what does that say about the poem? There is more than one way to recite it, and there fore different people could get a different experience from reading it.

Let's forget the arrangement for a second and focus on the wording, the poem itself. It may not be classic poetry, and it certainly is no Poe, but look at what it does have.. for a 6th grader. First of all, the title. "Ode to this Poem." How ingenious for a kid to decide to write a poem about the poem he is writing, or trying to write. Then the poem is about what to write the poem about, not just about the poem. Then there's the line "frustrated I am." Everybody has seen Star Wars, and every body knows that Yoda liked to talk in reverse. My class knew I was the biggest Star Wars fan ever and none of them caught this... Plus this was another smart move by me to fill a line I had no other filling for. Most of this poem, like a lot of my poems I had to write for that stupid teacher, used this broken form, in which I created phrases or said things in an odd way. Considering I did this a lot, wouldn't that be my style, just like every other poet has their own style? Not to mention the multitude of other poets that said things in odd ways... and no one is their poetry.

Anywho, I'm not tryin to toot my own horn, but I think it's a little unfair that the better grades went to the kids (remember: 6th graders) who basically mimicked what they saw in the text books, as where I, who got a rather lame grade, made my poem totally from scratch and actually came upon this unique idea (Ode to this Poem...idea) after thinking about a great many other things that I could write about. My writing process led me to write this poem, about me deciding what to write this poem on. That's creativity.

Well, you can all think what you want, and I don't think this poem is worth a penny, however if you would like to buy it, I'm selling it for $4000.

Leave comments if you can.... please...

Big the Tiger, over and out.