Dear Origami

Fashioned after Kobe Bryant's "Dear Basketball" I invite others to do the same, write a "Dear_______" poem about something you feel passionate about

Dear Origami,

I found you when I was about seven years old,                                                              In the kitchen of my grandparent house when I heard them yelling…                          “John, you were supposed to teach her the paper hat!”                                                  And he reluctantly did, and probably didn’t even care                                                    That I saw a single piece of newspaper                                                                            Transforming into a puppet, a boat, and finally, a hat.

I was so amazed by you,                                                                                                That after, I spent most of my days                                                                                    Sitting in the library on the floor of the 700’s,                                                                of the Dewy Decimal system                                                                                          Devouring each book, and even skipping school-                                                          Wanting to be with you, and learning more and more…

You gave me a satisfaction of                                                                                  Transforming a single piece of paper,                                                                        Whirling valleys and mountains                                                                                      Into folds that transformed my curiosity                                                                          Into a reality, that I could hold in my hands

A bird, a flower, a frog, a star,                                                                                            A box with wings, a kangaroo,                                                                                          an abstract pattern,                                                                                                            The list goes on and on…

I couldn’t figure out life- but with enough patience,                                                      I could figure out you…

Sometimes I have spent hours and months with you,                                                      Working on a single model that I thought I could never do…                                                                                                     

And even if the instructions were not clear,                                                                     I never gave up on you.

Tossed out and crumpled papers                                                                                        And beginning again                                                                                                            Only to achieve success                                                                                                    In the end.

As life goes on, and decades pass;                                                                                      I teach you, to the young ones                                                                                            So my that my folds, will not be the last. 

Love you always,

Amanda 

Reviews

[A.H.]

Brilliant! This is an ode to Origami. Your love, experience and tryst with it. I love the way you talk through your memories in sincerity and warm way. Childhood is often the most precious place where we found the most precious things of our lives. They live on, they live on to teach us through our lives and discover meanings of life. I really loved these lines,
I couldn’t figure out life- but with enough patience,
I could figure out you…
Sometimes I have spent hours and months with you,
Working on a single model that I thought I could never do…

Thank you Amanda for pointing me to this poem. Enjoyed reading it very much :) Warm wishes your way! Best, Abhi.

[Amanda Reynolds]

Thank you, I fashioned this poem in the vein of Kobe Bryant's "Dear Basketball", I always encourage my students to do the same and pick and write about a subject they feel passionate about (and warn them from picking their cell phones as a subject;)

[A.H.]

That's so inspiring and great thought, Amanda. Cellphone, haha very true. Cellphones are so pervasive in our lives, it's almost become an extension of our hands now. Thanks for sharing.