Three Poems

These three poems reflect how my experiences as a qualitative researcher on the lives of gifted females as well as many other formal gifted education roles influenced a number of my own poems.

simply fabulous

"I knew the moment you walked in - you were one of mine."
swirls of purple
and quirky things,

eyes intense.

Confidence.

Momentary meeting.
an educator such as I
student numbers stretching to the sky

a few gems sparkle

Heart, passion.
Tensions of difference -
the blending in, the standing out -

never quite a fit.

I hear missions of discovery . . .

her students' solo drives
giving a solo mission of her own

looking for seeds

she never could have sown.

Seeing her colourful mind,
for once academic words don't fit.

She . . . would . . . get it.

All I could write was just this:

"Fabulous . . . simply fabulous."

knowing without asking
it's all she'd need.

finding her tribe

dreamily said decades later,
"One chance meeting changed my life."

To the not at all
happy student in the hall,
"Why study that?
it’s not your place,
not your space.
You should be studying art!"

And off she went –
that first lightbulb moment,

scattered puzzle pieces

began to fit.
For once she knew

exactly where to sit.

Finding her tribe,

opening her world –

the outside,
the inside,

no need to hide.

Never looking back.

tall poppies

No words exchanged
in this touching of a life.

Not much knowing.

Asked in jest,
"Face painting homeless?"

Answered a "Yes".

A Christmas celebration,

picking up my brush -

Glitter and all
to help dust off their fall.

Often there are gifts in the giving.

Stories of these youth . . .

UN-imaginable.
Hearing,
wincing.

No more stories please,

Just breathing.
Legs crossed on the grass.

One of "my" girls is near.

Who would have thought?

Tall poppies.
They shine even here.

Cross legged in her fish nets,

Time stands still.
We're transfixed.

Singing of love, of hope.
Face glowing,
eyes twinkling.
Tears in the eyes who possess the knowing,

Such strength . . . and a future.

Lessons taught by survival and youth. 

Dr Rebecca D. Napier

NB: Please note that this article only represents the views of the author(s), and is not necessarily representative of the views of the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented.