March Column

First published in The Evening Sun on March 27, 2011:

Spring is finally here. As the flowers peek from the soil and the sun sets later in the evening, we watch winter make its muddy transition into spring. Most look forward to a change in the weather, but each change, no matter how big or small, forces us to adapt or transform in some way along with it. For instance, some are still adjusting to the clocks springing forward, and others must prepare for high pollen counts in the air. Each person adjusts in his or her own way.

Whether it is a new season, job, move, or even a new coat of paint, changes allow us to see our surroundings, and maybe even ourselves, in a different way. As I think about the changes we all face in our lives, one thing is certain: our lives never stay the same. Things always pop up to surprise us and change our direction. In turn, these circumstances, and our reactions to them, sometimes challenge us to transform ourselves.

After I moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico over the summer, I witnessed a transformation within myself. Living in the tropics, surrounded by Spanish and Puerto Rican culture, forced me to adapt to my surroundings, while it also taught me the patience it takes to make a big change.

Transformation does not always inspire comfort. Just like our current movement into spring, it is often muddy. However, in the following poem, which I wrote in Puerto Rico, I outline my process, comparing it to a bird building its nest.

Nesting


Most days I am a sparrow
building nests in kapok branches
to distract from the thick air,
from the ocean swelling all around.
I swim my words and thrash
when I go under,
but soon eggs will drop into my throat
and leave my mouth in another language,
my bird tongue curled in release.
I’m growing wider wings, too,
ones that catch salt water
like the lone pelican, tasting fish
at the sight of each bubble.
My sparrow claws clench, wait.

During a recent visit to Dana Sauers' class at Delone Catholic High School, I shared this poem with some of her students. One student pointed out that while I began "growing wider wings," I maintained my "sparrow claws." Although I felt myself growing and changing, parts of my core remained the same.

Maybe this is the best lesson I have learned. Originally, I had planned to live in Puerto Rico for five years, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to leave and now live in Hanover. Once again, I find myself rebuilding a nest, transitioning back to the place of my roots.

However, even though I live in the place where I was raised, my past transformations give me other layers to draw from. Lately, as I write poems, I begin with a list of images from the day, but soon Spanish words and ocean images creep into my lines. Wherever we go, however our lives change, we can only draw from the vault of images unique to our own experiences. In fact, our personal lens, through which each of us sees the world, makes us all poets in vision. The only step between experience and a poem is actually writing it all down.

As spring begins, along with so much new life around us, I challenge everyone to reflect on the changes in their lives and to write poems about their transformations. In honor of April, National Poetry Month, I am holding my second annual poetry contest for people of all ages in the community. Like last year's contest, there will be four main categories: elementary, middle school, high school, and adult. Each poet should e-mail up to three poems to bradyke@gmail.com, with "Contest" and your age group in the subject line.

For this year's contest, poets should send original work or respond to the following prompt:
We all experience changes in our lives. No matter how large or small, these changes often force us to go through some kind of transformation. We always retain our roots, but inevitably, we gain something in the process. Write a poem about a transformation you have experienced in your life. How did this change affect you or your environment?

I will accept entries through the month of April and look forward to reading your poems! For more information, please check out my blog: http://poetlaureathanover.blogspot.com.