Lesson Introduction
Coming of Age…
Coming of age is a young person’s transition from being a child to being an adult. It continues through adolescence. The specific age at which this transition takes place varies between societies, as does the nature of the change. It can be a simple legal convention (turning 18 and being able to vote) or can be part of a ritual or spiritual event. A few examples in America are Sweet 16s, Quinceañeras, Mitzvahs, hunting trips, adventure journeys. The point is, there is a moment when the young you looks in the mirror and feels like a completely different you!
This change can be gradual or fast, but however it comes, it is not easy. It is the budding of responsibility and choice, the saying goodbye to dolls and tiny cars, the opportunity to sink or swim. That is what this lesson is about, the reflections that come when it is your turn to step into this new, more mature evolutionary cycle of yourself.
Again, this is about fun, so enjoy yourself. Breathe and relax as you are participating in this writing exercise and watch how much easier it is to do! An open heart equals and open mind.
War
Shadows on the wall
Noises down the hall
Life doesn’t frighten me at all
Bad dogs barking loud
Big ghosts in a cloud
Life doesn’t frighten me at all
Mean old Mother Goose
Lions on the loose
They don’t frighten me at all
Dragons breathing flame
On my counterpane
That doesn’t frighten me at all.
I go boo
Make them shoo
I make fun
Way they run
I won’t cry
So they fly
I just smile
They go wild
Life doesn’t frighten me at all.
Tough guys fight
All alone at night
Life doesn’t frighten me at all.
Panthers in the park
Strangers in the dark
No, they don’t frighten me at all.
That new classroom where
Boys all pull my hair
(Kissy little girls
With their hair in curls)
They don’t frighten me at all.
Don’t show me frogs and snakes
And listen for my scream,
If I’m afraid at all
It’s only in my dreams.
I’ve got a magic charm
That I keep up my sleeve
I can walk the ocean floor
And never have to breathe.
Life doesn’t frighten me at all
Not at all
Not at all.
Life doesn’t frighten me at all.
Nanny
I remember hot sticky summers
Under the Laytonville sun
I remember Nanny
Impatiently ringing her bell
I crunched sunflower seeds
Devoured a Butterfinger
Pretending I didn’t hear it
I remember when I couldn’t put it off any more
She always wanted Old Fashioned
Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
I remember looking for the frostbitten carton first
It was always there
I don’t know why
I remember she liked two scoops
From the fresh carton
I remember when she died
I remember my summers weren’t the same anymore
I remember the funeral
The lump in my throat
It was an open casket
I remember my cousins
Kissed her lifeless cold cheeks
I remember I just touched her hands
Because I couldn’t kiss her
I remember being mad at my cousins
Nanny always curled her hair back
That was Nanny
They curled it forward
Making her look like Elvis
She would have cursed them up and down
Elisha S.
Grade 12, SCHS
Pre-Write: Word Walls
Brainstorm some favorite memories treats from when you were little – maybe starting from 5 and moving up to your age now. Think of concrete examples, people, colors, landscapes, sounds, smells, tastes, weather, place, times of day, etc.
Write quickly and from the heart. Just list them on a piece of paper — you don’t have to use all of them, but it is good to get your mind moving.
Directions for Writing Your Own Poem
Things to Consider:
Incorporate the images you created already and write a poem about coming of age, using your memory and sensory details to take the reader with you on your journey.
Use details and five senses to bring your memory to life for others as well as yourself. Use metaphors and similes for the same reason.
Ex: Not just, “I remember when I met my best friend.”
Rather: “I remember when I first met Sasha / she was wearing a dotted red bow / and held out a strawberry muffin / I took it from her hand / and smiled /we’ve been eating lunch together ever since
It’s okay to imagine if you don’t exactly remember. Ex: I don’t remember what clothes I packed in the doll trunk when I was going to run away. I’ll imagine that I had my unicorn onesie with a rainbow yarn tale.
ASSIGNMENT
Borrow from one of the examples on this page and use the images and brainstorm above to write a poem about coming of age.
Start with the line: “I remember”
or: “When I was young I thought”
Make sure you title your poem!!
Audio & Video Inspiration
We Real Cool
The Pool Players.
Seven at the Golden Shovel.
We real cool. We
Left school. We
Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We
Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We
Jazz June. We
Die soon.
Gwendolyn Brooks, “We Real Cool” from Selected Poems. Copyright © 1963 by Gwendolyn Brooks.
Long Ago Dreams
I remember my Aunt Opal’s tawdry church hat
and how I held it for her when she was singing!
I remember the time I had a weird dream
about me turning into a perfect orange tree.
I remember the first time I went to San Francisco
and thought the Golden Gate Bridge was gold.
I was very disappointed!
I remember when I lied to my mom
about it being pet day.
We didn’t have a pet,
so she bought me a hamster at PETCO.
Kacey C, Grade 9
PAHS
Declaration of Independence
To understand the art of warfare
Remember the games of your childhood.
Remember the power
In strength and force,
How the winner was king.
Remember the justice
In sticks and stones,
How fight made right.
Remember the glory
In forts and lairs,
How passwords winnowed.
Remember the mercy
In blackmail and bribery,
How silence meant safety.
Remember the victory
In older and bigger,
How small still ruled smaller.
Then, remember that it was only a game.
And that we were only children.
Carmen E, grade 9
