Morning Talk
BY ROBERTA HILL—for Melissa L. Whiteman “Hi, guy,” said I to a robin perched on a pole in the middle of the garden. Pink and yellow firecracker zinnias, rough green leaves of broccoli, and deep red tomatoes on dying stems frame his still presence. “I’ve heard you’re not THE REAL ROBIN. Bird watchers have agreed,” I said.”THE REAL ROBIN lives in England. They claim your are misnamed and that we ought to call you ‘a red-breasted thrush’ because you are indigenous.” He fluffed up. “Am I not Jis ko ko?” he cried, “that persistent warrior who carries warmth northward every spring?” He seemed so young, his red belly a bit light and his wings, still faded brown. He watched me untangling the hose to water squash. “Look who’s talking!” he chirruped. “Your people didn’t come from Europe or even India. The turtles say you’re a relative to red clay on this great island.” Drops of crystal water sparkled on the squash. “Indigenous!” he teased as he flew by. |
Mall Talk
By Luke Loehr "Hey, ” said I to a Santa relaxed in a red velvet chair in the middle of the mall. Red and green sugar cookies, a warm, soothing glass of milk, and Christmas spirit fueled by young children frame his jolly presence. “I’ve heard you’re not THE REAL SANTA. The other kids at school have agreed, I said.”THE REAL SANTA lives at the North Pole. They claim your are misnamed and that we ought to call you ‘a mall santa’ because you are local.” He perked up. “Am I not Jolly Old St. Nick?” he boasted, “that big bellied man who brings presents to children every Christmas Eve?” He seemed so old, his beard snow white, and his eyes, filled with wisdom. He watched me nervously chew at the nails on my fingers. “Look who’s talking!” he said defensively. “You don't even live in Rosemount and yet I have seen you put on the jersey that reads 'Irish'” What once was a part of my fingernail dropped to the floor. “Local!” he teased as I walked away. |
Poem Description
When writing “Mall Talk,” I was clearly inspired by Hill Whitemans, “Morning Talk”. First of all, I tried to mimic Hill Whiteman’s stanza structure in my poem, although I did not mimic her meter. She wrote her poem about a “red-breasted thrush” which she couldn’t call the “REAL ROBIN” because it was from America and not England. I tried to think of something that people argued the reality of, and the first thing that popped into my mind was Santa Claus. Dr. Hill Whiteman used the word “indigenous’ to describe the robin which symbolizes her Native American heritage. Similarly, I used the word “local” to describe the mall Santa. Furthermore, Hill Whiteman had the robin use the Native American phrase, “Jis ko ko”. According to the Silver Birch Press, this means “robin” in the iroquoian language. So, I decided to have the mall Santa use the phrase, “Jolly Old St. Nick,” which is another American name for Santa Claus. I then took Hill Whiteman’s theme of indigenous and applied it to my own life when I had the mall Santa say, “You don't even live in Rosemount and yet I have seen you put on the jersey that reads 'Irish,'” as I actually live in Inver Grove Heights instead of Rosemount.
Bibliography
"Morning Talk, Poem by Roberta Hill Whiteman." Silver Birch Press. N.p., 22 Apr. 2014. Web. 01 Feb. 2015.
When writing “Mall Talk,” I was clearly inspired by Hill Whitemans, “Morning Talk”. First of all, I tried to mimic Hill Whiteman’s stanza structure in my poem, although I did not mimic her meter. She wrote her poem about a “red-breasted thrush” which she couldn’t call the “REAL ROBIN” because it was from America and not England. I tried to think of something that people argued the reality of, and the first thing that popped into my mind was Santa Claus. Dr. Hill Whiteman used the word “indigenous’ to describe the robin which symbolizes her Native American heritage. Similarly, I used the word “local” to describe the mall Santa. Furthermore, Hill Whiteman had the robin use the Native American phrase, “Jis ko ko”. According to the Silver Birch Press, this means “robin” in the iroquoian language. So, I decided to have the mall Santa use the phrase, “Jolly Old St. Nick,” which is another American name for Santa Claus. I then took Hill Whiteman’s theme of indigenous and applied it to my own life when I had the mall Santa say, “You don't even live in Rosemount and yet I have seen you put on the jersey that reads 'Irish,'” as I actually live in Inver Grove Heights instead of Rosemount.
Bibliography
"Morning Talk, Poem by Roberta Hill Whiteman." Silver Birch Press. N.p., 22 Apr. 2014. Web. 01 Feb. 2015.