To you who gave me writing
To my mother who spent hours with brightly colored flashcards
taught me that a semi-circle shape was a “C”
To my grandmother who would trace letters on my back
taught me the touch of words
To my parents who wrote down in my daily journal I what I told them to write
taught me the recording power of words and that my words mattered
To my mother who on that just beginning to cool, hot summer evening in the kitchen
taught me the letters in my name
To my father who would read to me comicbooks from his childhood
taught me that I can be enthralled in compelling stories and heroic characters
To my mother who persevered against my whining in forcing me to read beginner level “Bob Books”
taught me that I can be a critic of what I read but I still have to respect it
To Miss Griffin, my kindergarten teacher, who after reading a story about ducks
taught me that “ing” means action, a verb
To Mary Pope Osborne who wrote Magic Tree House, the first books I ever read and enjoyed by myself
taught me the joy and accomplishment of reading
To Ms. Hinds, my fourth grade teacher, who gave me an assignment to give a biographical speech about someone famous
taught me how empowering public speaking can be
To Ms. Benford, my elementary school librarian, who found for me my favorite childhood author
taught me to try new genres and that “different” can bring some of best things
To Margaret Peterson Haddix who was my favorite childhood author and filled my childhood with characters and situations and words and choices
taught me how other’s writing can touch my life
To Ms. Burke, my fifth grade teacher, who gave me an assignment to write a mystery story
taught me the power and excitement of my own fiction
To Ms. Cothran, my public speaking coach, who saw potential in me and changed a shy, analytical girl to a animated girl and a lover of poetry and my own writing
taught me that my writing impacts others and that I have a voice, so use it
To Ms. Mihocko, my seventh grade teacher, who critiqued me hard
taught me that my style is not enjoyed by everyone
To Pastor Randy who gave my first chance to preach a real sermon
taught me to follow my dreams and to work for the Lord
To Ms. Conley, my freshman english teacher, who opened my eyes to the wondrous world of writing and analyzing literary devices
taught me why and how I love the written word
To WordPress who gave me a way to share my writing
taught me that others value my work and that I should take pride in it
To Economics summer test that hours upon hours spent pointless stem and response that no one will ever glance at
taught me that purpose of writing is to convey a meaningful message that will be read
***
To you who gave me writing
and to all I left out in this poem
I thank you dearly
for writing
allows me to create my world
both in fiction
and not
***
To God who created the heavens and the earth and everything in between
for giving me something to write about
To God who gave me a mind to comprehend writing and all of its glorious intricate relationships
To God who gave the world writing at its perfection, the Bible
To God who allows me to spread His Word through my words
***
To you who gave me writing
To you who gave me the power to change the world
To you who gave me the power to change my life
To you
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