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the community newspaper for east oahu since 1987
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Spotlight on a Star Poet by PAULA BENDER To most adults whose lives are jammed with so many have to dos that the wanna dos get shelved for that ever elusive me time, poetry is considered an indulgence in which we rarely partake. And yet, it shouldn't be. Poetry can be quick bursts of rhythms, provocatively short haikus, romantic sonnets, novel-length epics. Why have we forgotten what a source of inspiration poetry can be? Thank you Starbucks for the Star Poets program, which encourages children to see the poetic potential in a pet, a petal or a person. In all her infinite wisdom, Jaz Graham, 10, indulges us as she focused on a frozen confection often sidelined by more than 30 other flavors, in a poem simply called "You're Vanilla." Graham is as honest and sincere as a pint of vanilla ice cream. As a fifth grader at Holy Nativity School, she learned with her classmates about the joy of poetry from her teacher, Heather Lum. "I actually didn't like poetry until I came to Hawai'i, and Miss Lum showed us so many ways to do it," Graham said. "Poetry is writing with rhythm. There is so much you can do with it, there is so much you can say with it." Indeed. Pick up any Star Poets Journal 2007 at your local Starbucks and you'll find poetry by children from third through twelfth grade covering subjects that touch on nature, time, family, heartache, accomplishment, sport, scorn. It's raw, yet accomplished. It opens a window into souls willing to be vulnerable, willing to give us a private thought, willing to share something pure. "Jaz is a student who has thrived in my writing workshop because she is self directed and erupting with creative ideas," said Heather Lum, who teaches at Holy Nativity. "She's an insightful thinker who expresses herself with confidence, enjoys the challenge of new writing tasks, and infuses her writing with personality." The children entered the contest in January. Results were disclosed in April. And winners like Graham were awarded $50 gift cards for Ala Moana Shopping Center. As the students prepared, they bubbled with anticipation of winning $50 - except for one. "I told them that I'm entering the contest for the honor of being chosen," Graham said. "Me and two other girls in the class entered it for the love of poetry. We knew if we did it for the love of poetry, then we'd have a bigger chance of winning. That's why I won." Graham's mother affirmed that she did come home frustrated. "She told me that she got really mad at the people at school one day because they were talking about what they were going to do with the money," L. Kae Granael, Graham's mother said. "She entered with a true heart and with no intention of winning. I thought it was cute. So when she won, I was so happy for her." You're Vanilla You're vanilla By Jaz Graham, |
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