Rather appropriate for back to school, don’t you think?
Pencil
Annie Louise Twitchell
I have a new pencil.
A friendly, blue pencil,
with a nice sharp tip.
My pencil writes well.
Fine lines begin to fill
my paper, telling stories
about dragons,
spies,
princesses,
vegetables,
knights,
spaceships,
caves,
treason,
despair,
and love.
My pencil is tired now.
The bright blue paint
is chipped,
from months of being
carried in my book bag.
The eraser is worn to a stub
from the labor of removing
my thoughts.
It’s almost too short to be held
in my hand.
I don’t want to give it up
and let it go –
the letters and words
it formed for me
are important.
They mean something.
But it’s only a tool,
to convey my thoughts
so others can understand them.
The work of my pencil is done.
I have a new pencil.
A friendly green pencil,
with a nice sharp tip.
Copyright 2016 by Annie Louise Twitchell