SOLSC: The Perfect “Gift”

Last week, on the day I taught my students how to write letter poems by showing them Brod Bagert’s Poem “The Poem on My Pillow,” one of my students came up to me with a letter poem… to me. I was touched by her words and found myself holding back tears. She brought it to me to ask if she could use it in her Poetry Portfolio. Touched and moved, I said, “Yes,” softly.

Today, as my students were putting together their “Get a Reading Life” Independent Reading Life Projects, the same student approached me. She said she was going to read a poem aloud to the class tomorrow so demonstrate her ability to read like she talks, so when asked, “Can I have a picture of you?” I was confused.

“Why?” I asked.

“For my independent reading project,” she answered matter-of-factly.

“Why would you need a photo of me for your independent reading project?”

“Because, I’m reading the letter poem I wrote about you out loud tomorrow.”

“Seriously?” I asked. (I was asking about the poem and the photo at the same time.)

“Mmm-hmmm,” she responded.

“Why don’t we take your picture now?” another student asked.

We were in the middle of Reading Workshop. My hair was pulled back in a bun and I didn’t have lipstick on. So, instead, I scurried to my computer, pulled up the photos from my engagement shoot and printed out the first solo one of me I saw.

About 30 minutes later, when the kids departed for lunch, this is what I found near my student’s desk:

I don’t think I deserve a poem like this, but I got it. (I certainly don’t deserve for that photo to be so big. Why on Earth did I print out an 8×10 for her?!??!) I am so deeply touched and moved. I think this is one of the best gifts I’ve ever received. And to think, it was mentored after another poet and is part of her “Get a Reading Life” Project…