Thursday, April 5, 2012

Self-Reflection

     In my teaching years, I've mostly worked with early adolescents, and one of the important parts of their lives is working out exactly who they are, who they want to be like, why they want to be like that, how does it work being that way, etc.  We had many discussions about choices and choices and even more choices.  Making good decisions for self is an important concept to consider all of one's life, and learning that one does have the power to make decisions for oneself is an epiphany for some.


Taking Some Care


Here's a question
meant for all:
Although posed
self-consciously.
Cannot I ever just be
the me 
I would rather see
than she seen by all others
surrounding 
me?  










    Also, be sure to check on the Poetry Tag Group shown at the right!  And check on Jama Rattigan's blog post at Jama's Alphabet Soup  to discover so many Poetry sites in the kidlitosphere doing wonderful things!  Cathy, at Merely Day By Day, is joining Mary Lee, at A Year of Reading in a poem a day this month. Other daily poem writers include Amy at The Poem Farm, and Donna at Mainely Write.

15 comments:

  1. Love this poem - maybe it is a season of life but I felt like you had read my thoughts. I often wonder why the me in the mirror doesn't look like the me I see in photos :)

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    1. It's often a surprise for me too. How does one reconcile the feelings inside with the looks outside?

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    2. I don't know about reconciling but I am getting more comfortable - maybe it's an age thing

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  2. This is so thought-provoking. A lovely poem. I wonder if the closer the two images are - "the me I would rather see" and "she seen by all the others" means you are living your life "out loud"? What an interesting reflection to explore - what are the differences and similarities between these two personas? Lots to think about. Thank you!

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    1. Thank you Maureen. I love your thoughtful 'wonders'. As we get older, I suspect the two reconcile more often, at least I hope so!

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  3. It's a tough thing to be between two "ages" and your poem addresses not only how adolescents confuse where and who they are as opposed to how others see them, but for again, I'm thinking in our later years. There are just times in our lives when what we see is not what others get...or something like that.

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    1. So right, Donna. I remember my mother saying when she looked in the mirror, she didn't see what she thought she would.

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  4. I love this poem. It is so fitting and so true. Perfect. Sometimes I see my mother in my mirror, sometimes my dad... I would love for you to be guest blogger any time even if its October!
    Tammy

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    1. Thanks Tammy-we do see different things, don't we? I'll be in touch.

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  5. I too love your poem, got me thinking about how I feel when others are looking at/to me. People see what they think or want to see, I often wonder if it is the genuine me or something perceived. I loved Maureen's comment about living out-loud!

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    1. And those who see what they think or want to see are different every time according to their own needs. It's a 'human' thing, perhaps, because each of us is unique. Thanks Betsy!

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  6. This reminded me a little bit of the Disney version of Mulan (was it Mulan? I keep mixing up the Disney Princess Characters) about seeing one's reflection and not finding one's self in it. :)

    Cannot I ever just be
    the me
    I would rather see

    are my favorite lines. Very powerful. :)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Myra. It is really a quest for self throughout one's life.

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  7. I would like to see the "she seen by others." We don't know what others see. Some see us better and some worse. We do the same for ourselves. Very intriguing poem/question.

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  8. Mirror, mirror, on the wall...

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