Fearless Or Foolish
Life is confusing sometimes
At least it has been for me
I was Mom’s “change of life” baby
two siblings far older
change in the birth certificate
three days spent as Marilyn
then I became Carolyn
not many toys in our city home
so I started jumping off things
graduated from steps to trees
then my preference changed to roofs
fearless always, perhaps foolishly so
but I sensed my limitations
at three I was standing on my head
spinning like a top
ran faster, jumped higher
than boys on my block
walked tall on stilts
bounced on my pogo-stick around the block
hid my frog “Pierre” in the garage
acrobat lessons for eight years (Hurray!)
but Mom wanted to make a lady of me
ballet didn’t change this tomboy
went to the state spelling championship
but at age 12, I couldn’t spell “murmur”
and the oddest books I read as a child:
“Lincoln the Unknown”
“How to Stop Worrying and Start Living”
Jacque Cousteau’s “Silent World”
traded my pig tails for mini skirts
cheerleading for the high school football team
still love the sport today
recruited by the ice hockey coach
to teach boys how to skate backward
recruited by the boys’ gymnastics coach
to flip and vault as team members scowled
captain of my college speech and debate team
first freshman to win the Peace Oratory contest
judged by Princeton University professors
writing has supported me all of my life
from high school to the present
first a copywriter, then a journalist
humorous verse is my favorite
some family members say I’m a “wit”
They’re only half right :D
*October 18, 2014 by Carolyn Devonshire
Friends, I’ve got a flu now and hope to be well enough
to return comments soon.
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