Don’t Throw That Poem Out !: Tips for a Successful Poem Scrapbook

“The roses are Red

Violets are green

I’m so sorry I hit my brother

But he was being mean. “

Children not only say the most terrible things, they also write them. Whether this poetry sprouts from creative writing exercises in schools, or at HEARTSONGS, HOPE THROUGH HEARTSONGS and JOURNEY THROUGH HEARTSONGS The case of Mattie JT Stepanek, now deceased but never forgotten at 13, due to special circumstances, degenerative muscular dystrophy, which produces an extraordinary gift, rhymes can easily be lost over time, move, throw away school papers or simply forget.

While our children’s poetry may not become the best-selling books and CDs (Stepanek teamed up with young country star Billy Gilman to produce a CD), those sweet or questioning childhood verses and teen songs Angry and distraught they bring pleasure, joy, and comfort. They are as much a part of history as official family records. How many of us wish we had saved our poems from clutter, neglect, forgetfulness, or well-meaning suggestions (we hope) from parents that “you’re just not a poet,” or even a parent who throws away our writings? longings? You can bet Mattie Stepanek’s mom would never throw away her first poems!

Whether we have the gift of becoming a poet or not, whether our children are Emily Dickinsons or not, those scribbles and typescript are part of our lives, our thoughts, our feelings. They are gifts in themselves, and loving children everywhere have the creativity to give them. Mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, are excited beyond words when they receive a card on construction paper, or even computer-created by a young Bill Gates or Charles Schulz. That card may contain a poem about “The World’s Greatest Dad.” Want to throw it out and keep all the store bought greetings you take for granted? You can even lead your spouse to wrestle with love poems, and you want to save them too.

The answer is a scrapbook. Poetry on paper is perfect to keep on scrapbook pages. You may want to create a scrapbook for family poems and created cards, or multiple scrapbooks if you have more than one poet in the family. You can organize family scrapbooks by writer, poem subject (family dad, mom, dog or cat) or by occasions: birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, graduations, new homes, weddings, births, etc. Or you can include poems in scrapbooks you have created to record these occasions, scrapbooks containing decorations, invitations, announcements, pressed flowers, etc.

Some tips to preserve a successful poem:

* While it is tempting to include the yellowed paper your child wrote his first poem on, consider re-copying it onto some pretty paper and include it. You can include the original document if you wish, but do so alongside the typewritten or handwritten version.

Do the same if a poem has stains or spills.

* If you have not dated a poem by your child, look at the text and compare it with different ages. Always write down the age of your child.

* Always date family poems, either on paper or by making a note on a printed or handwritten label.

* If you can’t guess when a family poem was written, look at the occasion. If it was your 50th birthday or a particular wedding anniversary, you already know the date (unless your memory is like a man’s!)

* When you’ve started making family poetry scrapbooks, always choose heavy paper for future poems or paper that will hold up well.

* If the poem goes with a photo, include the original even if the photo image is on the paper the poem is printed on. Or include a photo of the event or a photo of the family member the poem is about for an illustrated poem!

* Consider writing a page that includes examples of family poetry quotes, a sort of “Best of the Jones family” list.

* Lastly, if someone in your family doesn’t mind hearing your recorded voice, make a CD or cassette of the poems and include it in your scrapbook.

Your poems may never be read across the country, but you and your family will treasure the memories they bring with you. So start writing and happy scrapbooking!