my orange tree moment...

the orange tree

away up high in an orange tree
two little oranges smiled at me
i shook the tree
as hard as i could
down came the oranges
hmmm. they were good

while preparing dinner, i told papa that the tomatoes in his tinola looked like sliced oranges. without thinking, i immediately blurted out (in a childish tone) the first two lines of this children's poem

away up high in an orange tree ...

my sister laughed and we both recited the poem together, pausing to think of the lines that followed.

we shook the tree with actions like what we used to do while we were in nursery.

we were having fun. then it dawned on me. it was a poem. and i wasn't hesitant to recite it. to feel it. to enjoy it. i didn't have butterflies in my stomach. i didn't worry about the rythm or the imagery or the measurement.

unconsciously at least.

after a moment, i realized that it had most of the elements of a poem. because if not, it wouldn't be a big hit or popular as it is.

i realized too that if i set aside all my worries (including dr. marj evasco as my poetry professor!) things would loosen up a bit. if i enjoyed it as it is, like the orange tree, i might probably have fun and erase the thick line i've created between poetry and myself. it's never too late.

wish me luck!

here's to embracing and enjoying poetry!