Up to that time I had never thought about being a poet and was rather surprised at being elected Class Poet. In fact, I hadn t expected it. But I guess the youngsters in my class felt I had some rhythm to give a poem. The teacher told us a poem had to have rhythm. A hand shoots up, a definition is shouted out, and the discussion begins.
Misery is sadness.
Misery is madness. Most know well what misery is, although some don t know it by that name. I ask, because I want to show them that it s not just one thing, that it s different for everyone, but also the same for everyone. They call out words, associations, opinions pain, suffering, hurt. On the board, I make a list of all the things that misery is, which will be available for them to use when they begin writing.