Piri Thomas

Every Child Is Born A Poet

So, I'm in the middle of a literature unit with my class that I finally feel, feels like me. I struggle often, with finding my own voice - in whatever I do. It usually takes me awhile before I start trusting my own intuition, my decisions. I usually start by looking at models of what should be done. For weeks now, I've been immersed in educational theories and pedagogies and I love being in that heady space but even so, it needs to become synthesized and taken into practice. So, finally, I'm beginning to shape lessons in my own words that I hope and believe, are created with love and with my students in mind.

What I wanted to blog about at about midnight was this one part of this project I did today with class. It was simple. The role for them was called: The Poet. They had to read a poem by Piri Thomas and then write their own. A young female student of mine asked a long list of questions "What do you mean by inspired?" "Should I copy this poem?" "Can I use some of his words?" I tried to answer in a vague, open ended manner - what does it make you think of, sure, if you'd like.

I love first drafts. I wish I did a better job of having my students be organized. Her first draft were these beautiful lines written in English and then she crossed out the first few words at the beginning of each verse and replaced them with its Spanish translation. I think my jaw dropped and my heart burst wide open. All I said was "That's wonderful." But really, I was thinking: its wonderful that you've found a way to bring voice to your piece, that you found space for your mother tongue, that without me telling you how you went ahead and found your own beautiful way.

We're going to read An Island Like You by Judith Ortiz Cofer, but I think I'll have to buy Piri Thomas' poems and the film about his work and life. Word to the spoken and written and soulful and from the other world, word. It springs forth from such unexpected places.