a poet at ten

i never remembered jokes, &
was not good at telling stories;
i turned ten, and became a poet

as a shy nature girl
nothing was more my friend
than the trust found forming

words....and then sentences;
before i became twelve,
i wore the beret tilted to the left

i became a poet before i did know it
i lived for words, and birds, and all
that glittered in the sun

i said i was going for a hike
but it was more a need to
get lost- and find the words

that would identify my self
with more than just being:
a daughter, a sister, a friend

i wanted to write about my
blessed freedom of gravity, & my
innate ability to fly OVER swan lake

no mistake--the shy girl kept
writing--and would talk a little
later-- when it came to be

natural for me-...not on command,
or on demand...my silence
was my power--the quiet flower

always had something to say
but just was particular as to who
i spun my gold dusty words with

it's fun to see relatives/friends
who haven't seen me since i was ten
all of a sudden i have something to say

~Kate Lamberg (c) '16

*baby katie with mamma...(c) '56 by stan lamberg *