Homeschool, by my daughter

Poem by Johannah

My 21 year old daughter is in a poetry writing class at Ohio State University. Today, she sent me her most recent poem. It stunned me—so completely in tune with what I’m trying to teach about the Brave Writer Lifestyle. Here is that lifestyle, in poetic form, for you to taste and experience. I share it with you, with her permission.

homeschool

by, johannah bogart

lemon pluto pudding and moon pies
for constellation themed parties.
dissecting devilwood, daylily buds
or formaldehyde frogs with friend’s nurse mom.

it is savage garden full volume
to cover angry words uttered to fractions worksheets.
Fridays spent feigning French study
between chapters of Chihuly: Seaforms.

Tradition! Tuesday tea time
pg tips, scones, poetry sharing
“he clasps the crag…” from memory
merges with “maggie and milly and molly and may.”

then sister scribbling
in sketchbook, three brothers backwards
eyes to the computer, mind divided
me – attentive, knitting while
mom orates to her fondest beings
chuckling with e. b. white, aged understanding

day ends mid-chapter when mom’s eyes flutter
closed and kids, unaware that homeschool
is perpetual, think their learning is done

Homeschool

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11 Responses to “Homeschool, by my daughter”

  1. Diane says:
    April 13, 2011 at 7:45 am

    🙂 🙂 🙂 I thought we were the only family that did that!

    >>>day ends mid-chapter when mom’s eyes flutter
    closed and kids, …. think their learning is done

    By George, she’s got it!
    >>>unaware that homeschool is perpetual,

  2. Cindy says:
    April 13, 2011 at 8:40 am

    Absolutely fantastic! Yep. . .it WAS payday for you, Julie!

  3. Victoria says:
    April 13, 2011 at 10:23 am

    Wow. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Thank you both for sharing.

  4. LoriD says:
    April 13, 2011 at 10:36 am

    hmmmmm Teatime yup I know my kids will take that one with them.

  5. Dawn says:
    April 13, 2011 at 11:34 am

    Yep, Oh how I yearn for those days past…

  6. Kelly says:
    April 13, 2011 at 11:44 am

    Wonderful! Thanks so much to both of you for sharing.

  7. Kathy B. says:
    April 13, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    So beautiful, thoughtful, reflective…authentic discipleship, my friend!

  8. Susanne says:
    April 13, 2011 at 1:48 pm

    Wonderful, wonderful!!!

    I especially love the part about learning being perpetual–learning not pummeled into the box of 9AM to 3PM but a living, breathing, uncontained thing.

    Johannah’s poem warmed my heart, so I’m sure that your mama’s heart has sprouted wings and gliding skyward!

    xxoo

  9. Sandy says:
    April 13, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    What an absolutely glorious poem! Congrats to you both.

  10. Melissa says:
    April 13, 2011 at 10:23 pm

    Love, love, love! Thanks for the encouragement Julie. Just shared the amazing things I learned from you at the Cincy Convention with a friend who is embarking on a homeschool journey next year. It rang as true to her as it did with me. Thanks for doing what you do. It is so FREEING.

  11. Julie Bogart says:
    April 15, 2011 at 12:51 pm

    Thanks for all your warm replies! I shared them with Johannah.