Keep Climbing, Girls by Beah E. Richards

fernfolio — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:58:50 +0000

When a little girl chooses to climb a tree to its highest bough, she comes up against the formidable Miss Nettie, who first warns of physical injury, and then accuses her of rude behaviour, before threatening dire consequences in the form of a reputation as a tomboy and the scars to go with it. However, the girl has a mind of her own, and is determined to reach the top of the tree, even at the risk of a fall or in the face of certain punishment when she returns to solid ground.
This is the story of a young girl’s climb to the treetop, but it is also a lesson in striving to reach your highest ambitions, despite the discriminatory attitudes of others. As the child in this story learns, “the path of life goes up and up, not down” so “keep climbing… and let no one prevent you!”
The author, Beah Richards, was an African-American actor, political activist and poet. The poem, Keep Climbing, Girls was originally published in her collection of poems entitled A Black Woman Speaks. Beautifully illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, Keep Climbing, Girls is a must-read for all who strive for equality of all people.
FernFolio Editor

If I Had a Million Onions by Sheree Fitch

fernfolio — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:03:23 +0000

Here is a small book of poems that everyone should read. Sheree Fitch is a lover of words and word play – alliteration, rhythm, rhyme, onomatopoeia. Her poems are at times playful, at times evocative, at times thought provoking.
The opera-singing dinosaur of Argentinosaurus reminds one of Evita Peron and the Three Tenors. Beggs and Acon will truly tist your twongue. If Only I Could Find the Words plays on how words can sound so similar and yet have meanings that are so different.
As a lover of books and libraries, I particularly enjoyed One Blizzardous Nightstorm which is a epic story about “a traveller bravalliant” who races through a snowstorm to get his books back to the library and through the book returns slot before they become overdue. Do Your Best Under the Circumstances lovingly admonishes,
There is no suit of armour, child.
There’s arrows and there’s pain.
But when your heart is broken, child
Stay strong and love again.
The final poem, A Prayer, is a wish for all that is good and simple.
FernFolio Editor

FernFolio » Poetry

Keep Climbing, Girls by Beah E. Richards

If I Had a Million Onions by Sheree Fitch