Liz invited me to lunch. She is a poet. My husband and I have met her and her husband on the dance floor. I was “tickled pink”, as my southern mother would say, that she asked me to lunch. We talked for hours. While the restaurant got quieter and quieter, we got louder. When she told me she was an Enneagram four, I jumped up and squealed! No wonder we have a connection.
Liz asked me a question, author to author, “What do you most identify yourself as?”
For a long time, I was a teacher. In retirement, I’ve become a teaching artist. In March, I released my first baby board book. But my answer to her question was “Poet!”
And it felt good to say it out loud.
Identity is a tricky thing. Of course, our vocation dictates our identity. I will never not be a teacher. Now that I have 5 grandchildren, I will forever be Mamére.
Claiming the title poet feels vulnerable. Am I worthy of this title?
What do you claim as your identity?
In church on Sunday, listening from the choir loft, I found a poem in the Psalm. May we all find the bravery to be who we are called to be.
A Poet Listens to the Psalm and Hears
You marched—
skies poured
gracious rain,
refreshed goodness.
Sing, mighty voice,
to holy places!
Blessed be!
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, you are indeed many things among them mom, grandmere, teacher, poet, author, and writer extraordinaire! Your lunch conversation sounds like the most delicious lunch imaginable. Your question pokes at my heart and is one I struggle with in a huge manner. In spite of an advanced degree in learning and many years of teaching on many levels as well as many years of writing to support others and my own understanding of things, I struggle with labels and am very reluctant to call myself a writer or a master at anything. I suspect it gets into some self-esteem challenges that have plagued me in recent years as my family identity as well as my professional identity evaporated! I suspect I need one of those lunches as inspiration!
Anita, I do wish we could have lunch. I think we could talk long and deep!
Poet, writer, daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, artist, dancer, believer, environmentalist, friend… you have shared so many aspects of your identity through your blog. And have encouraged so many of us. I am glad you listened, heard, and shared the Psalm in poetry today! Thank you!
You ARE an artist – – a writer, a poet, a painter, a smooth moves dancer and more. A wood duck watcher. Mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend….all those roles and so creative. Yes, yes. You claim that title and I love what you did with the psalm.
Margaret,
Yes, it is hard to call myself a poet, even with several published poems in a number of collections. I’ll let others decide whether or not I merit that label.
It is something how our labels change as our life situation changes. The “poet” label is one that is well deserved and one to be proud of.
Thank goodness we can have multiple identities through our life! I love the poem you found, and the description of your conversation.
I love this! I’m taking a bit of your joy from this post with me this week.
Margaret,
Knowing you first through EthicalELA and more recently through your blog, poet is the identity I most link with you. Through your poetry, I also glimpse your identity as a daughter, wife, mother, mémère, teacher, artist, author, and nature lover. But first and foremost, a poet.
Thanks, Sharon. Certainly poet is the title I embrace most in my online presence. And the community of Poetry Friday and Ethical ELA made me say to Liz, “Poets are generous.” She has not had the same experience, sadly.
I love that you are embracing the vulnerability and calling yourself a poet! I think we have lots of work to do to help to redefine both writer and poet…I hope my students will claim these titles for themselves!
I think it’s easier for students to embrace the title of poet. They haven’t had the rejections and critiques to beat it out of them yet. I certainly feel more like a poet when I read aloud to littles. What joy and authentic admiration!