I have one more poem to go. I think the hardest part of the project will be writing the factual material and assembling the book. I have to determine the order, and maintain a balance of girl-boy voices. A significant portion will be mill worker poems, and the rest will be a mix of other child laborers--newsies, pickers/packers, home workers, etc. If everything doesn't flow, then I may have to write a few more to substitute.
CherishInterestingly, the little girl on the right was Eddie Lou Young, the name of the one on the left is unknown. You can read all about the search for Eddie Lou's mother's identity, here. I gave the voice of today's poem to the unknown child.
Sister told me, "Cherish that friend."
When I asked her what that meant,
she said, "Keep smiling for Eddie."
We must laugh together. Sing while
we work. At break, whisper silly
words and secrets. And, I'm 'sposed
to listen when Eddie whispers in my ear.
Most of all, Sister told me to remember
the feelin' of her hand in mine--the
tangle of our sticky little-girl fingers.
"The Lord don't promise us nothing
here on earth but heartache and pain!"
she hollered at me. Hollered loud!
I was put in mind then--Sister
once had a friend, too, jus' like me.
Last year Sister stopped talking
bout her mill friend, Carrie, and I
figured she didn't like that girl
no more, but I think maybe she
'jus didn't hold on tight enough.
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
Renee at No Water River is awaiting your arrival for this week's Poetry Friday festivities.
I love these voices across the centuries, Diane. Beautifully done.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Andy.
DeleteI love this project, Diane. Just look at those faces! I like seeing where your imagination takes you as you give voice to these children. Great last stanza :).
ReplyDeleteThe faces were what hooked me. Then their youth.
DeleteDiane, your book will be such a treasure. I've loved every one of the poems, & admire the work you've done to support the stories. Sweet little girls!
ReplyDeleteI paid to have it digitized, so next year you'll be able to read the whole thing online (I think that's the way it works). However, I have to put it all together so that it's digitiz-able!
DeleteAnother amazing poem/photo combination, Diane. Those last few lines literally gave me chills.
ReplyDeleteI literally have the chills since the temperature has dropped drastically here in NH! :-)
DeleteEddie Lou looks like she means her smile, but your narrator looks like she's thinking about what you wrote in your poem! It sounds like you have some work ahead of you to put the project together -- it will all be worth it!
ReplyDeleteNot too much work, I hope! I wrote all the poems months ago, it's the assembling all the pieces and copying that's going to be my downfall.
DeleteI'm another who is completely gripped by this project--it will be so fascinating to adults and children who can't imagine a time when every child wasn't in school all day, who have forgotten how industry is the developmental challenge of middle childhood. I especially loved Preston's poem.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Heidi! Necessity is a mean task master. Check out the quote I posted on Labor Day at KK's Kwotes.
DeleteI have loved watching this project grow! I can't wait to share your book with my students. Do you know Elizabeth Winthrop's book Counting on Grace? Yours will pair perfectly with it!
ReplyDeleteI do know Winthrop's book!
DeleteWhen you're ready to share with your students, let me know and I'll send you a link to my "secret blog" where I have the poems set up in the order I want them to appear in the book. I made a cover that I like (plus it uses one of those creepy-man-lurking-in-a-doorway photos that sort of sums up child labor for me).
Thanks! Will do!
DeleteEach poem in this project builds this amazing, and moving narrative, Diane - I hope your book comes out by the time we arrive at the Industrial Revolution in my class - I'd love to be able to share them with my kids...and inspire them.
ReplyDeleteWhen do you do the Industrial Revolution? I'm not sure how long the Sketchbook Project takes to digitize the submitted books, so it may not be ready for a long time. However, see my comment to Mary Lee above and when you're ready, get in touch and I'll send you a link.
DeleteOh Diane. So sad for those girls. The older sister's despairing advice makes me think something unfortunate happened to her friend. This book is going to be such a window into the reality of a different time! Thank you for your work, and for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I imagined might have happened--cotton dust in the lungs ended up disabling or killing many mill workers.
DeleteWow, Diane! I went back through and read all the poems for this project and I just love them. Amazing. You have done an incredible job of making the old photographs come to life-each with a story. Again...Wow!
ReplyDeleteThank you Penny!
DeleteI am just jumping back to Poetry Friday so I have missed this project but will spent my morning coffee time tomorrow going back through the other poems you have shared.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating idea. Well done.
Thank you Susan, I hope your coffee time was well-spent! One more poem to post this coming Friday.
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