Month: April 2020

For the first day of National Poetry Month 2020, celebrate with a #hashtag acrostic.  Think of words or phrases that describe you and that begin with the letters in your first, middle, and last names.  Introduce yourself below!

#hashtagletmeintroducemyself

#kayakpaddler
#ilovedogs
#meditativewriter
#booknerd
#eagertraveler
#ratherbereading
#listensmorethantalks
#yinyangimbalance
#happieraftercoffee
#asksquestions
#yestonewchallenges
#naturelover
#experienceinspireswriting
#seeksadventures
#jumpsinfeetfirst
#overeatssweets
#hasabutterflygarden
#notashopper
#simplifiesthecomplex
#overjoyedonfireplacesnowdays
#nonfictionpreferred

#gottaSHOWUPunannounced

I see it in the old photographs –

   young minister at his desk

   writing

   books piled high

   baby in the middle

   wallowing in the books,

   chewing the pen

   two fully immersed

   in words, texts, pens, paper, creating,

   passion pumping through veins

    like ink through a fountain pen.

That baby was me. 

Literacy guaranteed.

But what about the Shunwells?

Who ignites their flames?

Because

knowing about basketball

writing about basketball

watching a basketball game

isn’t enough.

#gottaSHOWUPunannounced

#gottaread

#gottawrite

#gottaaccept

#gottarelate

#gottarespect

#gottainspire

#gottainfluence

#gottaencourage

#gottaembrace

#gottalove’emall

#gottagetinthegame

and get my arms around kids

#gottareframethatpicture

and perpetuate that legacy

#gottapickupthatfoutainpen

and revise the playbook

-Kim Johnson

Inspired by my father, Dr. Felix Haynes, and the greatest of the great at showing up unannounced – Kwame Alexander  – watch here:  https://youtu.be/LJvx6ZNYHVw