I take my son to school every morning, and as he lines up outside the classroom, he is inevitably met with a chorus of roars from three little girls who have decided that they are dinosaurs. As someone who was a dinosaur fanatic as a child, this speaks directly into to my soul, and I love them all so very much. My extremely pragmatic son, on the other hand, who does not imagine himself to be anything other than what he is, responds with a sort of weary bemusement, leaning back slightly as they roar directly in his face.
With dinosaurs on the brain, I went in search of one of my favourite childhood poetry books, Jack Prelutsky’s Tyrannosaurus was a Beast, only to discover that I actually wrote about it as my very first Poetry Friday post, all the way back in 2016! I knew I’d been participating in the group on and off for a few years now, but it’s actually getting close to a decade! Life has a funny way of circling back on itself, doesn’t it?
Anyway, inspired by these three pink-clad dinosaurs (none of whom are actually named Sally, to respect the anonymity of all dinosaurs involved), I came up with this poem, which I think accurately captures their ferocious spirits.
Did you have a wild imagination as a child? I was always pretending I was something or someone from my imagination, whether a princess, a ninja turtle (everyone wanted to be Michelangelo), a kitten, or a dinosaur. The Land Before Time film came out when I was about my son’s age, so pretty much everyone in my kindergarten class was a long-neck or a three-horn dinosaur on the playground. Thankfully my son is a pretty sanguine character, and despite his confusion as the point of all this imagining, he seems to be taking his more exuberant classmates in stride.
Oh well, at least I can join in with the rest of the dinosaurs at school drop-off. I do a pretty good roar, if I do say so myself!
Tabatha is hosting Poetry Friday this week, over at The Opposite of Indifference!
Super poem, Jane! With all the gusto of a real-pretend dinosaur 🙂
I was definitely able to imagine myself in the roll! 😉
Here’s to all the girls who have found their voices and can ROAR! Let’s not silence them in any way, shape, or form!
Plus, I love your poem. It accompanies your story PERFECTLY. (And I’ve had that experience of finding a mirror-image post on the blog from a decade ago!)
I LOVE this! My father always made me repeat “I am woman – hear me roar” when I was growing up. <3
Oh, my goodness, yes! I have distinct memories of being completely caught up in imagination and hating being pulled out of it by something as practical as dinner or having to go to bed. This is a wonderful poem. I love the kid in it. She IS a dinosaur for a bit. Linda M.
Same!! Dinner was such a chore, unless I could chomp on tiny trees (broccoli) like a giant brontosaurus. 😀
The glimpse of your son’s morning is as delightful as your poem, Jane.
Patricia
I really treasure these times we spend together, though sometimes less though on the rainy mornings. 😉
With all that fun background, your poem shows how delightful the scene you see is every morning! Love the rhythm, a song to sing! ~ Linda Baie
Jane, your poem is delightful. Children will love it because of the character, rhyming, and a terrific ending. Roar! Have a great weekend.
Jane, my comment just vanished so I will try again.
Your poem is delightful. Children will love the rhyming, voice, and the theme of dinosaurs. The end line is just right for this poem. Roar!
Enjoy your weekend. -Carol V.
Such a fun poem and so relatable!
This poem is such fun Jane! Thanks for the smile.
Jane, what a fun post. I love the imagination of those three little dinosaur-girls, too. This is so cute. And your poem is a great children’s rhyme. Will the girls get to hear it?
I should read it to them in the morning! I think they’d find it a hoot. 😀 I always end up with a gaggle of kids around me – once a children’s librarian, always a children’s librarian. 😉
I adore the image of those three little girls roaring with all their might, and your poem perfectly captures their imaginative gusto! 😀