Warning: This is another shameless Grandmother post. I received a wonderful gift from a friend, “Letters to My Grandchild”. It’s a little book with envelopes to tuck letters into. I love this idea because those books that you write in intimidate me. What if I mess up? This little book is just envelopes, so I can do multiple drafts before I place them into the book. Thanks, Dani!
I’ve been reading Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes. This book will tug at your heartstrings as Nikki overcame a terrible childhood bouncing around in foster homes and facing her mother’s alcoholism and schizophrenia. The memoir is constructed with poems and notebook entries. Each poem is a poem in and of itself. Because of this, I can share poems from the book with my students without having to read the whole book to them. The content can be too tough for my young students.
On Thursday last week, I shared the poem “The Mystery of Memory #3”.
Think food,
To read the complete poem, read Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes.
and nourishment
comes to mind,
but we all know
it’s so much more.
One bite of pineapple,
and my tongue sticks
to the roof of memory,
gluing me to the last moment
I savored a slice of
pineapple upside-down cake
at my grandmother’s kitchen table.
One of my poems came out as another grandmother joy poem.
Think baby,
and crying comes to mind,
that piercing sound
first heard as life.
But we all know
it’s so much more.
So many firsts–
first bath
first smile
first step
first word.When you send me a picture
Margaret Simon, after Nikki Grimes
or video text, my heart
swells with joy.
Something new,
something yours,
now mine.
A tiny finger
wraps around my finger
tingling with love.
My second grader Rylee is not yet worried about line breaks, but she heard the rhythm and sentiment of Nikki’s poem and wrote this (hands off from me) in her notebook.
With line breaks by me:
Think
Rylee, 2nd grade
of you
buying a cake saver
for your mom,
and she’s going to open it,
then she knows what it is.
She likes it,
then she is so happy
that she bakes
a cake.
Reflections on the Teche 
I saw Nikki Grimes in your tag and could not resist. Now another book to add to my TBR. And what a fabulous gift is that mentor poem. Your grandchild is so cute. You have every reason and right to gloat. I love the image of fingers interlocked. I can’t help but think what a gift you’ve given Rylee. She’s “baked” a lovely poem. I hope she continues to receive nourishment for her poetic voice after she moves on from second grade.
I have an ARC of Ordinary Hazards that I still haven’t gotten around to reading. Maybe soon, since my Newbery possibility reading is drawing to a close. I love the poem you wrote. Your boys are so beautiful and that image of that tiny finger is precious. Keep writing about them and posting those grand boy pics!
How wonderful an invitation is the book of envelopes idea – I think about how young writers need some sense of safety to take writing risks. I will need to get Nikki’s book. Your (shameless) grandmother joy poetry to me is a celebration of arrivings: new life, firsts, new love, new relationship. A savoring of life. Rylee’s poem struck me with its poignance. All so beautiful (especially Thomas).
I live your poem, how it captures the wonder and joy babies bring… but I have to say, Rylee…just wow… think of all the poems to come, starting with this in second grade!
Margaret, Letters to my Grandchild sounds like a notebook I would love. I also have issues with writing poems in beautiful books because I always cross out to do my rewrites. I guess that is why I like writing in my digital notebook. I can wipe off the messy parts and be left with either a draft or a fresh, new poem. Think baby is a great way to walk through my days. Being a grandma is such a special and blessed opportunity. I can see why you are smitten with love. I wish I was closer in distance to Sierra and Aurora. We are seriously thinking of moving to Virginia if we find the right place to live with main floor living. Thomas is adorable and has such a warm, cheerful smile. These lines resonate with me: When you send me a picture
or video text, my heart
swells with joy.
I know that feeling also. Thanks for sharing.
I notice the way love shines through this post – of grandchild, of poetry, of writing. I notice that Rylee, too, finds love through Nikki Grimes’s start and through that cake saver – and how you show love and respect for her words as you add line breaks and share them. Thank you for this.