Personal History - Mother Goosed Rhymes (and Grandmother, and Great-Grandfather, etc.)

Do you remember having a favorite nursery rhyme or bedtime story? What was it?

My mother, when I was little, gave me a book with zebra stripes and really old-fashioned pictures on it, with 'Mother Goose' on the front of it. Poetry became part of my life from that point on.

She and my father also presented me with a book of more 'grownup' poetry and wise sayings when I was eight, at the Sizzler, along with my journal. I perused that book as well.

I don't remember one poem or another becoming my favorite, nor do I remember any particular bedtime story, but I have poetry memories.

When I go through a particularly emotional time, I tend to break out into metered rhyme, and write poetry. It really does make me feel better.

Poetry Runs In the Family

My great-grandfather did this too, as did my grandmother, and my mother, and now my youngest brother and I. It's in the genes.

Each person's poetry came out different, just as each unique person wrote the poem.

My great-grandfather's poetry is simple and straightforward, and probably the best of all of us. He had a real gift, a lot like Robert Frost.

My grandmother's poetry ranged from thoughtful to wacky.

My mother's poetry is mostly sentimental memory poems, very similar to her favorite poet, Edgar Guest.

My brother's poetry tends to run longer and more epic, with family and spiritual themes.

And me? I favor the thoughtful stanza, limerick, or the haiku, nearly always with a touch (or a heaping shovelful) of humor.

One of my bucket list items is to compile and publish a book of all the family poetry one day. Hoping I live long enough to do it.