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Don't Throw Away That Poem!
Tips For Successful Poem Scrapbooking
by Kristin Johnson
When you're scrapbooking family memories, don't forget poetry written by your
kids, your mate, even by you! This article offers timely tips for preserving
poetry.
"Roses are red
Violets are green
I'm really sorry I hit my brother
But he was being mean."
Kids not only say the darndest things, they write them, too. Whether this poetry
springs out of creative writing exercises in the schools, or in HEARTSONGS, HOPE
THROUGH HEARTSONGS and JOURNEY THROUGH HEARTSONGS 13-year-old
now-deceased-but-never-forgotten writer Mattie J.T. Stepanek's case, out of
special circumstances, degenerative muscular dystrophy, that bring forth a
remarkable gift, the rhymes can easily be lost through time, moving, throwing
away of school papers, or just simply forgotten.
While our children's poetry may not become best-selling books and CDs (Stepanek
teamed up with young country star Billy Gilman to produce a CD), those sweet or
questioning verses of childhood and angry, angsty teenage songs bring pleasure,
joy and comfort. They are as much a part of history as official family records.
How many of us wish we had saved our poems form clutter, neglect, forgetfulness,
or the (we hope) well-intentioned suggestions of parents that "You just aren't a
poet"---or even a parent throwing away our written longings? You can bet Mattie
Stepanek's mom would never throw away his first poems!
Whether we have the gift to become a poet or not, whether or not our children
are Emily Dickinsons, those scribblings and typings are part of our life, our
thoughts, our feelings. They are gifts in themselves, and loving children
everywhere have the creativity to give them as presents. Mothers and fathers,
grandmothers and grandfathers, are moved beyond words when they receive a card
on construction paper, or even computer-created by a junior Bill Gates or
Charles Schulz. That card may contain a poem about "The Greatest Dad in the
World." Do you want to throw it away and keep all the store-bought greetings you
take for granted? It may even move your spouse to wrestle with love poems, and
you want to save those too.
The answer is scrapbooking. Poetry on paper is perfect for preserving in the
pages of scrapbooks. You may want to create a scrapbook for family poems and
created cards, or several scrapbooks if you have more than one poet in the
family. You can organize the family scrapbooks by writer, poem subject (Dad,
mom, the family dog or cat) or by occasions: birthdays, Christmas,
anniversaries, graduations, new homes, weddings, births, and so forth. Or you
can include poems in scrapbooks you've created to record these occasions,
scrapbooks that contain decorations, invitations, announcements, pressed
flowers, and so forth.
Some tips for successful poem preserving:
* While it's tempting to include the yellowing paper your son wrote his first
poem on, consider recopying it on pretty paper and include it. You can include
the original paper if you wish, but do so beside the typed or handwritten
version.
Do the same if a poem has smudges or spills.
* If you haven't dated a poem by your child, look at the writing and compare it
to different ages. Always list your child's age.
* Always date family poems, either on paper or by making a note on a printed
label or in handwriting.
* If you can't guess when a family poem was written, look at the occasion. If it
was your 50th birthday or a particular wedding anniversary, you know the date
(unless your memory is like a man's!)
* When you've started scrapbooking family poems, always choose heavy paper for
future poems, or paper that holds up well.
* If the poem goes with a photo, include the original even if the image of the
photo is on the paper the poem is printed on. Or include a photo from the event
or a photo of the family member the poem is about for an illustrated poem!
* Consider typing up a page that includes sample quotes from family poems, a
kind of "Best Of the Jones Family" list.
* Finally, if anyone in your family doesn't mind hearing their recorded voice,
record a CD or cassette of the poems and include it with the scrapbook.
You may never get your poems read nationwide, but you and your family will
treasure the memories they bring. So start writing, and happy scrapbooking!
About the author:
Kristin Johnson composes personalized poems, speeches, toasts, vows, and family
memories. Visit http://www.poemsforyou.com
to order your personalized memories. She is also co-author of Christmas Cookies Are For Giving:
Stories, Recipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts (ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9). A downloadablemedia kit is available at our Web site,
http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com, or e-mail the publisher
(info@tyrpublishing.com) to receive a printed media kit and sample copy of the
book. More articles available at
http://www.bakingchristmascookies.com
ScrapVenturePro is a 52 week membership giving you details on how to own your own successful scrapbooking business.
Download their free report: Scrapbook for Others and Make Money with the Passion You Love by clicking here.
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