Kathleen Finn Jordan and Tora Estep

 

Tora Estep

Inspiration Piece

The Red Coat
Kathleen Finn Jordan

Response

Apprehensive
called into service surprisingly
guest lecturer to an incoming freshman class
I look at myself in the mirror and wonder
If my attire, the donning of a red coat
after a scenic route tour of my mind
will do the trick
create the atmosphere for a class
riveted daily by virtual gaming
inspire some interest, excitement
captivate their attention for the poem which I have been asked to
read and relate
“To My Daughter in the Red Coat “

Anne Stevenson writes of
“The shriveled women staring at us from their stone benches”
And I wonder, will my red coat force a stare from them
generate a love for this poem
as the coat dances in the final line
will their minds dance and wonder and love this poem
will the donning of my red coat, a folio of poems under my arm
elicit a response, a nod to art and symmetry, a successful lesson
or will I only look foolish and old
as minds wander and cell phones vibrate under the desks of my audience
only a try and I hope they will travel with me
as I look at myself in the mirror visiting the poem in my mind
professor in a red coat, daughter in a red coat, challenge of the times
bringing poetry to life in an age of action games and shattered attention spans.

Note: All of the art, writing, and music on this site belongs to the person who created it.  Copying or republishing anything you see here without express and written permission from the author or artist is strictly prohibited.