Arts! By the People
Empowering Individuals Through Collaborative Acts of Self-Expression
Here is the latest collaborative poem from ARTS! By the People’s “Fun with Poetry” class at Lester Senior Housing. A group of about 12 residents ranging in age from 76 to 97 years old attend our class. We discuss a theme and read related poetry. This week’s theme was “change,” based on the coming of spring and the turn of seasons.
After we discussed and read poetry, I went around the room and prompted each resident with the phrase “when the snow melts…” Each one responds with his or her own line, as you see below. I do not change anything, because I want to keep it authentic, so how you read it is how they say it.
The seniors think of a title for the final step. Each month, these poems are submitted to Lester Senior Housing’s monthly newsletter. The seniors love to see their work in print. —Paul Rabinowitz
GALOSHES
When the snow melts, I hear laughter from children playing outdoors.
When the snow melts, I think of lots of water,
When the snow melts, I think of water.
When the snow melts, spring is not far away.
When the snow melts, I like to see the buds on the trees, because they will open up and have beautiful leaves and flowers.
When the snow melts, I see clean walkways and think of things that you can begin to do.
When the snow melts, I hope it doesn’t turn to ice!
When the snow melts, I like to try to get out.
When the snow melts, I think ancient, classical, modern, and futuristic. It encompasses all.
When the snow melts, the world changes.
When the snow melts, things come up from underneath the soil, refresh and change your outlook.
