Quirky Poems
Our Host
Inspiration
In the book Poemcrazy: freeing your life with words by Susan Goldsmith Woodridge, I felt a deep sense of connection when I read about how Wooldridge’s younger brother had made fun of their dad’s tacky blue socks – nylon, with two black stripes around the top and, upon his return to college, found his dad’s ugly socks hiding in his suitcase. The next time he returned home, he hid them in the house until they were found by his parents and returned during the next family gathering, even once making an appearance next to a rubber chicken in his honeymoon getaway car. Twenty-five years later, they are still exchanging these socks that they hide until one finds them and returns them. It brought back memories of my parents, who, up until my mother’s death, took turns hiding a Where’s Waldo figurine around the house for the other to find.
Process
We all do quirky, bold things that break the ice and bring us closer together. Think of a time that you’ve done something quirky – – with friends, with family, with students or even complete strangers. Let’s share our quirky exchanges today and whatever emotions they bring – in whatever form of poetry we choose.
Silke with Squeaky in Berlin, Germany, May 2019
Quirky Quackers
in Berlin, Germany
with tour guide
Silke /Zilkuh/
who said we could
call her Silky
“like my hair”
she joked
and smiled
and laughed
by the wall
but group rules
were no joke
she had a little duck
named Squeaky
she’d squeeze
all through the crowded
streets so we didn’t
waddle off
people stopped and stared
at this grown woman
little duck
held high
squeaking
leading a team
wondering whether they, too,
might better get in line
we were her ducks
in a row
until it was time for
pair-square-quads
we grabbed a partner
and then another pair
and quacked by fours
to be sure all her ducks
were safe
swearing we would never
use these quirky tricks with our
own groups of touring students
then secretly rushing off to buy
our own squeaky ducks
Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Common Threads 