James Coats is our host today at http://www.ethicalela.com, where on this first day of the March Open Write, he asks us to write about the anarchist in us. You can read his full prompt here. When I was reading the prompt, my fingers were already running to the computer before the rest of me had even left the bed. I’m convinced that the most compelling poetry, and all writing really, lives in those shadows, lurks in the pain. My sympathies ahead of time to any PK parents out there and sincere apologies to any well-behaved PKs who turned out good.
When You Want to be Gryffindor But Your Slytherin Roots Say No…….. Slythindor
Okenfenokee swampland mud
plus Southern Baptist preacher’s blood
mix them and you’re bound to find
they breed an offbeat, lawless mind
this reptile in me, like Slytherin magic
broke dad’s sermons something tragic
stealing church chalk so I could play teacher
(kind of what you expect from the kid of a preacher)
I learned to smile, doodle tie in my hair
when I wanted to strike and crawl out of there
but
let me assure you, if you’ve ever wondered
there’s an upside to this P.K, life I’ve encumbered
Parseltongue’s real in this parsonage child
who early in life felt outcast and defiled
born in swampland of snakes
I was raised among serpents
now I speak both the language
of saints and insurgents
Common Threads 
I read your post a half dozen times, way more than I usually read posts/poems, but still not enough as there is clearly many layers of shadows and pain woven into the words and spirit of this piece. In fact, this is such a compelling piece, I went back and read several of earlier posts in order to get an inkling into your mind.
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Thank you, Anita! I enjoyed writing this one, and the prompt was good from James today. That also is a blessing to have a prompt that guides thinking and ideas. I appreciate your reading and commenting.
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Ooo…didn’t want to hit send until I also shared, your poem does what powerful writing does: it compels your reader to ask for more! Well done
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Kim,
I’ve k own my share of PKs over the years. We know they’re often conflicted about the preacher in the pulpit who’s something else as the dad to the lad. I read your poem to Ken, but I had to explain what being a PK means. We both love the poem. You and Barb hit grand slam homers today. I’m so lucky to have you both i. my life.
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Thank you, Glenda, and we are the lucky ones to have you in our lives. Who else would be there to light a fire under us and get us up and dressed for a Slicer meet up and always inspire us with ideas and great travel and all that? You’re the best! Glad you enjoyed the poem.
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So have such an interesting background–and a creative manner here of relating your memories.
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Paul, thanks for reading today! Indeed, my background is a little off the norm.
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oh how I love that last line, “the language of saints and insurgents “ – you beautifully expressed something I feel, how rigid my upbringing and how wild my mind… this is wonderful, Kim. Also – how fantastic a feeling when this happens, “, my fingers were already running to the computer before the rest of me had even left the bed.”
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Maureen, I’m still laughing about your rolling down the hill……oh my, yes! This is a good example of where a rigid upbringing meets the need to break a rule or two. Thanks so much for your kind words.
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Kim, it is so great for you to speak multi-languages. You are a gem in this world, and it’s good to know both. This makes me smile, imaging you with “an offbeat, lawless mind.” My girls are PKs. You all have a unique challenge!
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Thank you, Denise! I appreciate that so much. Yes, we have a unique challenge and we can BE unique challenges. Bless you for being a parent of PKs.
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Kim, I’ll paste my comment from Ethical ELA here but I must reiterate first how magnificently crafted this poem of your background is, and how you know exactly who you are; you own it and honor your truths, triumphantly. The rhythm and rhyme are – in a word – perfect. In another word, magical… no pun intended with the Potter references. “The reptile in me…” it’s a real thing for all of us; a portion of my husband’s studies have focused on humans responding to situations with the reptilian part of our brains. The play on Parseltongue and parsonage is beyond masterful. “Raised among serpents” and bilingual in “the language of saints and insurgents” – are brilliant. I also cannot help thinking – considering the holiday tomorrow – that St. Patrick may have been the original Parseltongue.
PS – I am a Gryffindor but that doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally have Slytherin leanings…
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Fran, thank you! It never occurred to me about St. Patrick, but yes – – indeed, he could be the original Parseltongue. I am glad to know you are a Gryffindor. True story: when my grandchildren came and we were talking about which house I was in, I said, “Slytherin,” and my grandson reminded me of the scene in Elf when Buddy learns his dad is on the naughty list. Nooooooooo! So I am a Gryffindor by choice. Because at the end of all of it, Rowling left choice, and Harry reminded his son – – you can choose. The beauty of it all is choice!
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Hilarious and yes! Basically, the Hogwarts students landed where they really wanted to be.
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