{"id":129,"date":"2009-12-21T16:53:04","date_gmt":"2009-12-21T20:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.sherryquanlee.com\/?p=129"},"modified":"2009-12-21T16:53:15","modified_gmt":"2009-12-21T20:53:15","slug":"give-the-gift-of-a-poem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.sherryquanlee.com\/?p=129","title":{"rendered":"Give the gift of a poem . . . ."},"content":{"rendered":"

Give the gift of a poem . . . .<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/h1>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t know what to give that special someone?\u00a0 Three days \u2018til Christmas eve, Kwanza five days away, a New Year just around the corner; whatever the occasion, don\u2019t forget you can give a poem.\u00a0 A poem costs nothing but your time, asks nothing more, nothing less than your heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Recently, someone I met asked me for a poem.\u00a0 I have thought about his request, not sure what poem I could write, or how to get started.\u00a0 When faced with what to give someone I didn\u2019t know well, but getting to know better every day, I realized the best thing to give would be what he asked for.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

At lunch today, I was determined to write a gift poem.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t have time between my little seedless oranges, and salami crusted in black pepper and Colby cheese on dinner rolls, to spend any more time pondering.\u00a0 So I said to myself, what is my \u201ctheme\u201d?\u00a0 Currently my theme is IMAGINED LOVE.\u00a0 Such irony.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here is the first draft of my gift poem (I will also be giving him the book Curious?: Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life<\/em> by Todd Kashdan . \u00a0Go ahead.\u00a0 Write a gift poem today.\u00a0 On your afternoon break.\u00a0 Or, tomorrow at lunch.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

No one to give a poem to?\u00a0 Give it to me.\u00a0 Or better yet, give it to the world.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

NAME GOES HERE<\/strong><\/p>\n

asked me for a poem.\u00a0 A clever and brazen<\/p>\n

request.\u00a0 It\u2019s not so easy.\u00a0 Poems come and go.\u00a0 Fly<\/p>\n

like rage into the night; pink elephants big and heavy,<\/p>\n

sobering.\u00a0 How to write a show poem full of dance<\/p>\n

and song.\u00a0 Happy is a place I know, though who would believe it?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Words run amok telling stories bound in anger; reactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I am safe inside a poem.<\/p>\n

Outside when the wind blows bullets, I hunker low<\/p>\n

and eat silence, not so brave.\u00a0 Today,<\/p>\n

I ask forgiveness.\u00a0 Talk and write from a gentle heart,<\/p>\n

my gut recovering slowly.\u00a0 Forgive me for not knowing<\/p>\n

the devil in men sooner than later.\u00a0 But do you believe<\/p>\n

in fate?\u00a0 The world spins so quickly. \u00a0I was afraid<\/p>\n

I would be left dying, pronounced imperfect, immoral.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If intuitively I could have recognized love\u2019s imperfections,<\/p>\n

instead of believing because someone says s\/he loves you<\/p>\n

s\/he loves you.\u00a0 Some clich\u00e9s are to be taken seriously actions<\/em><\/p>\n

speak louder than words <\/em>(this is not about you).\u00a0 To speak\/action.\u00a0 Not<\/p>\n

to speak\/inaction.\u00a0\u00a0 A poet needs words, has faith in words. You have asked<\/p>\n

for a poem and here it is.\u00a0 You have said tell me so I understand<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thank you.\u00a0 So here it is.\u00a0 You, I have taken slowly.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cautious.\u00a0 Devil and angel.\u00a0 \u00a0I embrace you, trustworthy,<\/p>\n

with wild enthusiasm. \u00a0I don\u2019t expect devil to harm, nor angel<\/p>\n

to deceive.\u00a0 Still, I won\u2019t imagine conclusions because<\/p>\n

I am not seeking endings.\u00a0 In answer to your question, yes,<\/p>\n

I believe in fate; I also believe in choice.\u00a0 Thank you<\/p>\n

for the conversation, please, more.\u00a0 Curiosity<\/em><\/p>\n

is the Christmas gift I give to both of us.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sherry Quan Lee<\/p>\n

Copyright, December 21, 2009<\/p>\n

First Draft<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Give the gift of a poem . . . .\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Don\u2019t know what to give that special someone?\u00a0 Three days \u2018til Christmas eve, Kwanza five days away, a New Year just around the corner; whatever the occasion, don\u2019t forget you can give a poem.\u00a0 A poem costs nothing but …<\/p>\n

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