Dreaming with Mrs. Maxwell

Margaret at Poetry Jam has given us the task of writing about something that bothered us about ourselves when we were younger that ended up helping us succeed. Or the other way around – something we thought was good that has actually hindered us. This is tough for me because I tend to think of my flaws as being ginormous & in desperate need of changing. Alternatively, I can’t imagine any positive thing about myself that isn’t for the best of humankind. Yes, there I am in a nutshell: insecure egomaniac. It’s hard being me. Heh. And I’m continuing to type as I try to come up with something to write about. Hmm. Well, there’s this picture here, which is the Magpie prompt. Perhaps that will inspire me?

Dreaming with Mrs. Maxwell

When I was a child

I often lived in

another world –

one where

nuclear elephants

grew wings and

were forces of good.

They solved many

crimes and the winged

elephants carried

me safely away

in my hazmat suit.

But then Mrs. Maxwell

rapped my small hand

with her wooden ruler

and I arrived firmly

back in first grade

reading about Dick

and Jane and that dog

that wouldn’t listen.

Mrs. Maxwell tried

but it never really took.

That rapped hand

has since written

many a dream.

Note: Mrs. Maxwell had discussed what to do with my mother before she used the ruler (this was in 1970 or so). When she talked to my mother about it afterward they both cried. I loved Mrs. Maxwell!

2^nd Note: I probably didn’t actually dream about nuclear elephants when I was a first grader – that was more of a 7^th grade daydream.