Holding My Own Hand

Poetry Friday logo by Linda Mitchell

Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)

Have you seen the interesting poems consisting of overheard snippets of conversation that Susan Thomsen’s shared over time at Chicken Spaghetti? This week’s poem isn’t made up of all overheard snippets–but it was inspired by one. I really did hear a little boy at a fast-food restaurant say, in amazement, “Look, Mom! I’m holding my own hand!”

 

For this week’s treasure chest of poems, visit the Poetry Friday Roundup with artist/poet/creator Robyn Hood Black. Typing her name makes me smile at the gorgeous mermaid-themed bookmark I bought from her Etsy shop, artsyletters.

31 Responses

  1. That’s a good one! I love the last stanza. How children are so wise and can make us think.

  2. Laura, so sweet. I love that little boy! And I’m just going to sit this week with the power and wisdom in that last stanza.

  3. If we always paid attention to the young ones, right? I love the thought for us and the rhythm that fits so well, Laura.

  4. Out of the mouths of babes! Kid observations are a perfect inspiration for poetry. Thanks for this touching post.

  5. What a wonderful thought! That little guy discovered an important life truth that day — how fun to be able to witness that.

  6. Wow! This is a wonderful lesson in self-empowerment and love. So touching, Laura. If mountains grind to sand … it feels like that sometimes!

  7. With the details you include, I can easily imagine the scene. I love how you’ve turned an overheard conversation into a powerful poem!

  8. What a wise little boy! Lately, I’ve been feeling lost and needed a reminder to hold my own hand. Thanks, Laura. xo

  9. This is lovely, Laura! I will have to remember this and take it with me next time I help in Sunday School. What a great lesson… Thank you!

  10. Oh, that’s so wonderful! My son and I once made a “thankfulness tree”, where we cut out tree shapes from paper and wrote down things we were thankful for, and he said very empathically, “mama, I’m thankful for ME!” Such a good reminder that we are enough, just the way we are. <3

  11. I love how you caught the boy’s excitement. And I agree, the last stanza could stand in its own- so lovely and wise.

    My now grown-up daughter, when she was very young, but in the “me do it” phase made a similar declaration, though the context was quite different: to my plea (ok, maybe order) that she hold my hand as we walked across a busy parking lot she said emphatically,
    “No, I hold my hand! I hold hand, Mommy!”

  12. Love this, Laura. As someone else said, “Out of the mouths of babes!” You’ve created such a deep, inspiring poem from those overheard words.

  13. That’s lovely Laura. It is a universal truth. You set the scene so well with the rain and the vinyl.

  14. Laura, I am late to the Poetry Friday Roundup but inhale a deep breath and plunge into the reading with your post as a kick-off. How lucky I am to be delighted by your overheard conversation that is just the right piece to make me smile. I will need to start listening in now. (I am sorry that I have not wrote back about a NCTE proposal. I am drowning in life’s demands right now.

    1. Hugs, Carol. Drowning in life’s demands. I so understand that. No apologies needed. I think NCTE 2024 isn’t going to be in the cards for me this year, and I’ll miss connecting in person with wonderful educators and friends. But… trying to get on proposals is just too much. I feel you. I hope the demands on your time and heart and energy ease up and smooth out in the coming year, Carol!

  15. Ah, I know those mama’s tired eyes — and also the relief of knowing that our children can sniff out joy even amidst those wild, blind stars. Thank you, Laura.

  16. Another hooray for the rhythm and last stanza, so tender yet strong, thanks Laura!

  17. Kudos to you, Laura, for knowing this snippet was a treasure — and I’m sure that young mama appreciated your kind look! I’m with the cheerleaders for that last stanza.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,547 other subscribers

Are You Looking For?

Poetry Friday posts

Classroom Connections posts

All my poetryactions

Go to my Poetry page for:

  • National Poetry Month projects through the years
  • Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
  • Introductions to several favorite poetry forms
Tags
#waterpoemproject15 Words or Less Poems20for2030 Painless Classroom Poems50 State Poemsacrosticsactivity pagesactivity sheetALAA Leaf Can Be...Amy Ludwig VanDerwaterA Need to FeedanthologiesanthologyA Rock Can Be...art projectsaudiopoemsawardsbad newsBarbara Juster EsbensenBilly Collinsbiopoemsblog tourbookalikesbook festivalsBookSpeak!book spine poemsbook trailersbop poembyr a thoddaidcafepresscalendar poemsCamp Read-a-LotCan Be... bookscan be... poemsCapstoneCarol Varsalonacascade poemsCatherine FlynnccbcCCRA.W.3CCRA.W.4CCRA.W.5centoschapter booksCharles Waterschoral compositionschristina rossetticinquainsCLAclassified ad poemsclassroom connectionclassroom connectionsClover Kittyconferences and conventionscrown sonnetscybilsdansaDare to DreamDavid Elliottdeeper wisdom poemdefinitosdiamantesdiversitydizaindodoitsuDot DayDouglas Floriandownloadablesdrum corpse.e. cummingsekphrastic poemsepistolary poemsequation poemsessentialethereeseventsexquisite corpseFairy Tale Garage Salefamilyfibonaccifiction picture booksfinding familyfirefightersforeign editionsfound poemsfree author zoomsfree versefrom studentsgeesegeorgia heardghazalGift Taggiveawaygolden shovelgoldilocksgratitudehaikuheart of aheart of a teacherHeidi MordhorstHelen FrostHighlightshow-to poemshow to make a rainbowI Am FromI Am poemsidiomsif you want to knit some mittensIf You Were the MoonILAimagepoemsinterviewin the middle of the nightIRAIrelandIrene LathamJ. Patrick LewisJanet WongJoyce SidmanKendraKerlanKidlit Comboslailaura's board booksLaura's booksLaura's poemsLaura's readingsLaura ShovanLee Bennett HopkinsLilian MoorelimericksLinda Booth SweeneyLine Leads the WayLion of the Skylist poemslittle free librarylive writingLullaby and Kisses Sweetlyricsmadness poetrymagnipoemsmargaret simonMarilyn Singermary lee hahnmask poemsMatt Forrest EsenwineMeet My FamilyMelissa StewartMentors for Rentmentor textsmetaphorMichelle Myers LacknerMillbrookMinnesota Book Awardsmoneymoonmy reading lifemy writing processN+7naaninarrative poemsNational Poetry Month 2012 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2014 (riddle-ku)National Poetry Month 2015National Poetry Month 2016National Poetry Month 2017 (#wonderbreak)national poetry month 2018 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2020National Poetry Month 2021 (#EquationPoem)national poetry month 2022 (sticky-note poems)National Poetry Month 2023 (Digging for Poems)National Poetry Month 2024 (magnipoems)ncteNerdy Book Clubnifty newsnifty stuffNikki Grimesnonfictionnonfiction booksNonfiction Writers Dig Deepnovelsnovels in verseodesOne Minute Till BedtimeoppositifyOskar's VoyagepadletpantoumsparodiesPatreonpeacepersonalpet poemsphotopoetryphrase acrosticspicture booksplagiarismpoempicspoemspoems for two voicespoemsketchpoetic pursuitsPoetry 7poetryactionspoetry activitiesPoetry Blastpoetry booksPoetry FridayPoetry Friday AnthologiesPoetry Princessespoetry promptspoetry sistersPoetry Tips for Teachersprogressive poempublishing processpuddle songPutridquotationsraccontinosRandy Salasread-aloudreadaloudreading poetry in the classroomRebecca Kai Dotlichrecipe poemsrefugeesresearchreview copiesreviewsrevisionrhyming booksrhyming nonfictionrhyming picture booksRhyming Picture Books the Write Wayrhyming poemsRiddle-kuriddle poemsRock Can Be...Rock the Blogrondeau redoublesRudyard Kiplingsalas snippetsSCBWIschool visitsScotlandseasonssecrets of the loonSELsestinasshrinking daysskinnyskypeslice of lifesmall readssnack snooze skedaddlesnowman-coldsonnetsStampede!storm poemstorytimestorywalkstudent poemsstudent workSylvia VardellTanita Davistankatautogramteachableteacher resourcesteen/adult poemsterza rimasthankfulthank yous and referencesthe business sidethings to do iftracy nelson maurertrioletstunie munson-bensonvideosVikram MadanvillanellevillanellesWater Can Be...wealthy elementaryWe BelongWhat's InsideWhy-kuwinterwonderwonderbreakword of the yearwordplaywordsmithswork for hirewritingwriting bookswriting processwriting promptswriting the life poeticyoung authors conferencesYouTubeZapZap Clap Boomzenozentangle
Show More Show Less

Discover more from Laura Purdie Salas

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Join Laura's monthly newsletter for eductators

Get three of Laura's favorite poetry activities when you subscribe to "Small Reads."