Sylvanus Now Contest: Racing across the paper

The next submission for the Syvanus Now Contest is from Caitlin. Her poem reminds me of what being 15 (or almost 15) was like. It is a gift to remember.

This is about her first experience reading her work in front of an audience. It took place at a writers' workshop taught by Ami McKay last month at Ross Creek Centre for the Arts.

Racing across the paper
by Caitlin Peace-Williams

I'm so nervous. My hands are shaky and sweaty. Ami calls my name and I stand up, knees knocking together. I slowly walk to the stool and sit down. I take several deep breaths and start to read.

My voice wobbles at first. I stop and take another breath. I start again.

Tears are pouring down my face in terror, but I continue reading. I pause to wipe the tears off my face and Diane comes and hugs me.

"Thanks" I whisper. I start to read again. I remember the time I spent writing my poem. My pencil racing across the paper, thinking about it. I love writing.

I finish my poem and everyone claps. I walk as quickly as I can off the stage and I am enveloped in hugs from my whole camp. We stand there for a moment embracing. We break apart and the next person goes up. I cry for a few more minutes. I’m so proud of myself. I did it!

This is the poem I read:

Caitlin: An Inventory of Being.

I am Caitlin
I am almost fifteen
I am free-spirited
A person

My favorite color is blue
sky blue, ocean blue, just blue
My favorite piece of art is art itself

I love dancing in the rain
and slow dancing
but no other kinds of dancing
I love to watch people dancing

I love reading
I would read constantly if I could
But I can’t
I love drinking tea on sunny afternoons

I love slipping into a pair
of warm underwear,
hot from the dryer
its like a blanket for my butt

I love playing catch with my dog
her expression as
she brings back the ball
is priceless

I am boy crazy
my room is plastered
with Orlando Bloom posters
his face watching me

I am musical
singing like there's no tomorrow
I am creative in the kitchen
My works of art disappearing into my mouth

Your hair is like honey
my mother told me once
it’s soft and clean
and frizzy sometimes

My life is like a merry go round
always moving, turning, spinning
sometimes stopping for a moment
I am forgetful

I am a Peter Parker in
a field of superheroes
I am always laughing
loud, silent, loud and silent at the same time

My humor is my own
with my parents humor incorporated
my parents lame humor
incorporated

I love kisses, sweet kisses
on the cheek from my girlfriends
good night kisses, good morning kisses
Kisses-till-your-lips-are-sore kisses

I love sailing the smells
the sounds the taste of
salt air in my mouth
the feel of wind in my hair

I love running, the thump
of my shoes, the dog’s tag jingling,
her paws padding the road
I always get my ideas running

My favorite quote is
"The greatest thing you'llever learn is just to
love and be loved in return"

The saddest movie
I've ever seen is the Titanic
I cried for an hour,
love stories make me cry

I wear what ever I want,
I wear the physics tie because I feel like it
I have a shirt that says "I'm not opinionated,
I’m just always right"

My belly button is adorned
with a pink and silver ring,
it reflects the light
when I go sunbathing

My biggest secret is one
I can’t tell you – It’s something
I promised not to do
I haven't broken my promise

Sometimes I’m a stranger
to my self. I like to be alone;
I like to daydream; I like
curling up with my teddy bear on rainy afternoons

I love watching Jane Austen movies with my Mum,
and listening to my Dad play guitar.
I like watching my sisters jump on our trampoline

I like to watch people
I like to watch people watch TV
I like to watch my eyes in a mirror
I like soft music

I like pretending to listen to music
while actually listening to peoples’conversations
I like hot showers

I love skinny dipping
late at night and
early in the morning
I like getting dressed up to go to the movies

I love going to sleep
listening to the ocean
I like going camping in
Cape Breton

I love going swimming
the cool water washing over me
I like going in hot tubs
and having girl talks

I like talking on the
phone for hours,
talking about problems,
listening to problems

I remember why
I did the things I regret.
I love Dragon Flies