When the psychiatrist gives you the word association test, what comes to mind when she says "lesson"? School is probably considered a normal answer since we get so many lessons in classrooms. There are certainly many formal lessons in life in school, but we spend more time outside of school, so the number of lessons there is certainly much greater.
I found in a search a surprising number of poems about lessons. I found a "Dancing Lesson," "History Lessons," and a "Driving Lesson."
For this month's prompt, we offer as a model "Lessons from a Mirror" by Thylias Moss ( from Wannabe Hoochie Mama Gallery of Realities’ Red Dress Code: New & Selected Poems)
Snow White was nude at her wedding, she’s so white
the gown seemed to disappear when she put it on.
Put me beside her and the proximity is good
for a study of chiaroscuro, not much else...
When you look at me,
know that more than white is missing.
Moss' lesson is learned by looking at herself - perhaps literally in a mirror. Some lessons have a teacher. Some lessons are presented and learned; some lessons are presented and not learned. As someone who taught for four decades, I know the latter to be very true.
Visit our website at poetsonline.org
No comments:
Post a Comment
* * All comments must be approved by the site administrator before appearing in order to prevent spam.