Sometimes I find that a poem can express something in such a way that it reaches me deeply; more deeply than if it were all explained out in prose.
A poem can convey a mood, reawaken a memory, and allude to a host of experience. A bit like a simple smell can take me instantly back to a time I have smelled that fragrance before.
But I am no poet. So for my Poems Page I went in search of poems that might speak to girls as they come of age, and found very few. I called for help on my Facebook page and imagine my delight when Pauline Scanlon actually wrote one for us in real time, line by line, on Facebook.
Coming of age
Written for Rites for Girls by Pauline Scanlon
What is it for girls coming of age
Could it be captured on a single page?
The instinctual wisdom of a grand old sage
Held in a pubescent cage
A metamorphic body calmly riding with certainty
The vicissitudes of life with dignity
Learning gracious lessons of humility
Growing in assurity
And adding to innate intelligency
That’s a far cry for numeracy
Riding emotional waves with presidency
As she takes up her earthly residency
Whilst finding inner-peace in life
Amidst outer chaos and war-torn strife
Nothing like her has ever been before
No tale, No myth, No folklore
She’s here to open another door
Continue striding in love once more
Knowing all is perfect and there are no flaws
She’s simply a part of universal law
Who’s coming of age is to be adored.
