Joyful Noise

For all those who thought this was going to be my attempt at turning a movie into a mentor, think again. (Though it's not a bad idea.)   But, no.  Today, I am not channeling Dolly Parton or Queen Latifah.

Instead, I am sharing a way of capturing those moments in life that require a different kind of voice.  In this case, multiple voices.  Some things in life deserve to be told through poetry.  So, taking a cue from Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman, you can craft poetry to tell a story you might not be able to tell any other way.

Do you know how the poems go?  They are meant to be read aloud by two people, one reading the left column, the other reading the right.  Sometimes the words come together.  Sometimes, deliberately, they come apart.  Find someone to read this excerpt from the poem "Grasshoppers" with:

Grasshoppers hopping high Grassjumpers jumping                           Vaulting from               leaf to leaf stem to stem plant to plant leapers

Grasshoppers hopping Grassjumpers jumping far leaf to leaf stem to stem Grass- leapers

This form of poetry can put our writer's observations in new light, setting a new  pace, and--in this case--giving readers the sense that these tiny insects are skittering across the pages.  It can also catch hold of conversation, as in the You Read to Me, I'll Read to You series.  But, for my purpose, I needed it to hold onto a precious memory (Again, the power is in reading this kind of poetry aloud, so find someone to read this with you or click on this podcast):

I Remember Tickle my feet Daddy Stop Daddy Do it again Daddy Push me Daddy I could touch the sky I swing so high Grab my feet Daddy Let go Daddy Just for me? Daddy Daddy

I can still remember How you would Tickle my feet Even when I'd beg you to  Stop You'd Do it again I'd swing forward and you'd Push me Until I thought I could touch the sky You'd Grab my feet And pull me until I thought I would come out of my seat And then you'd Let go I knew you'd built that swing set Just for me Sometimes I close my eyes and I remember Daddy

Putting thoughts and experiences into narrative doesn't always come easy.  But this form of poetry--by the virtue of its poetic form--takes the pressure off.  And gives us a way of experimenting with language  that sometimes lets the story tell itself.  Have fun with this one!  Go on, try it!