A stutterer's poem

[luciddream]

I teach sixth grade and I have a student who has a serious stuttering problem. One of our assignments was to write a poem entitled "For My People"



A lot of the poems I received were about sports or music or family, the usual stuff. This one was different. It was about being teased because you weren't like everyone else. I figured Kittens would appreciate it, so I decided to pass it along...



For My People



This is for my people

Who are frustrated

Who are angry



For my people

Who cause names to be called

Who say words more than once

Who close thier eyes when they speak

Who can't talk talk normally



For my people with smart and big brains

For my people with strength to try again



Fingertips drenched with names



For the people with big hearts

And colored skins



For my people:



Stay strong, I feel your pain

..........................................



He got an A...



Lucid

'What you risk reveals what you value' Jeannette Winterson

Edited by: Warduke at: 6/10/03 8:44 am

[urnofosiris]

Can you tell me how old your student is? I am not familiar with the schoolsystem of other countries, so I am not sure how old someone in 6th grade is.

Edit: I'm asking because if he or she is as young as I think then that poem is all the more impressive and that A very well deserved.

-------------------------


Coffee, Food, Kisses and Gay Love........Get it while you are hot

Edited by: DrG at: 6/10/03 8:47 am

[Domaris]

Whoa.. It really is a wonderful poem. 6th grade, that's kinda young huh? Man most of cegep ppl in here wouldn't even be able to write something like that..!

"Rock my world!" - Gia

"Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you'll be a mile from them, and you'll have their shoes!" - Somebody

[Jennpurr]

Usually, Sixth graders are 11 or 12. That IS young.



WOW...



That's a very good poem!



Jen

||My Fan Fiction and More!|| ||My Yahoo Group||
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"Really? That BITCH! She's cheating on me!" - Amber Benson at the MR Con

[jeepchick scully]

Wow, I really feel sorry for that student. It's sad that people who are different get made fun of so much. However, it does make us stronger and much more intelligent, I believe.



Shanna

[3peanuts]

Little boy with self-esteem problems, this remind me of someone



But I really do think he's on the right way to be a happy young man: if he is able to express his feelings in such a wonderful way, he must grow up as a beatiful person. He is a beatiful person.

"Cunning linguist" GG

Keynes was right

[Domaris]

Ppl really can be mean sometimes. Especially kids. 11 or 12 years old is young, and he's not the only one who feels like that. luciddreams, you should maybe ask him his permission to publish or just, put it on some board at school. It may help lots of other kids if they know that they're not alone.. And plus, feeling helpful is an incredible remedy in those circumstances. And, you should make him read about nick brendon and how a stuttering boy can become an actor in one of the most popular TV show hehe!



I totally love this poem.



Domaris!

"Rock my world!" - Gia

"Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you'll be a mile from them, and you'll have their shoes!" - Somebody

[The Smee]

ok, yeah. I know where this bloke's coming from. Hats off to him, eh?

If you can read this, you're not the president.

[fluffylamb]

luciddream, Thank you for sharing your student's very touching poem. It is relevant for so many reasons here in this community. So many of us have felt that pain and ostracism because of any number of differences.



The obvious connection to the show is the stutter that Tara sheds as her confidence grows, but another connection is to Nicholas Brendon's real life struggles and triumph over his stuttering. Feelings on the character of Xander aside, Nick worked hard to overcome his stuttering. A quick search yielded this article:Nicholas Brendon Faces Down Stuttering Demon



The article is in a Xander site (not a haunt of mine, I assure you), so if the link has to be removed, that's the moderators' call.

"In fluent aphasia the subject talks at great length, but are unaware that what they are saying makes no sense."
Art said, "I know a lot of people with that problem." -Kim Stanley Robinson's Blue Mars

Edited by: fluffylamb at: 11/3/03 6:37 pm

[Always410]

Awh, that is so sweet. I think that A was very well deserved!

Tara: Willow, you are using too much magick. What do you want me to do, sit back and keep my mouth shut?

Willow: Well that'd be a good start.

Tara: (Shocked) If I didn''t love you so damn much I would!

[Mrs Vertigo]

Ah. Beautiful. Sounds like such a smart kid. Rings a ton of bells.

I love my long lost Jewish little-potato twin. In a prison way.

[MellindraX]

That's a kickass poem! Seriously, this has to be one of your better students? At least when it comes to creative endeavors...

HOLY SHIT ITS YOU! -Alyssa [Official Best Reaction for Showing of an Amber Benson Picture: http://www.coldarrow.com/plcochet/Chance%205.jpg]

[Tempest Duer]

I tip my metaphorical hat to this young man. I don't stutter, but I knew what it was like to be different and teased for it in school.

I believe in the madness called "now."