French Kyrielle Poems: Writer’s Riddle
Lord Have Mercy, She’s Only 14!: Kyrielle Poem Of Parenting
A French Kyrielle poem is like a puzzle that seems easy at first glance, but as you start putting the pieces together, you realize it’s more complicated than you thought. It wasn’t lost on me when I first wrote this type of poem form, back when my oldest granddaughter (now 26), was a very young teen and exceptionally physically and mentally beautiful — both the poem form and helping to raise a teen girl, presented us with quite a few complications. Like what do you do when grown men are hitting on her even when out grocery shopping? It had a lot to do with Double DD boobs and being naturally blond.
Just like how a Kyrielle poem has a repeating pattern, raising a teenage daughter has its own set of repeating patterns and challenges. Raising a beautiful teen girl is like writing a Kyrielle poem with the constant refrain of “Lord Have Mercy, she’s only 14.” Quite frankly at the time, we all felt like running off to Hong Kong (where my son lives), just to get away from the daily barrage of unwanted attention.
The refrain in the poem I finally wrote is a reminder of the fragility and innocence of a young girl, and how important it is to guide and protect her as she navigates the complexities of growing up. Just like how a Kyrielle…
