Poem: "Between Childhood and Adulthood"
Oct. 16th, 2024 04:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis poem came out of the October 15, 2024 Bonus Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from mama_kestrel and see_also_friend. It also fills the "WILD CARD: Wings" square in my 10-1-24 card for the Fall Fest Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by fuzzyred. It belongs to the series Quixotic Ideas.
"Between Childhood and Adulthood"
[October 15, 2024]
Adolescence is a border stretching
between childhood and adulthood.
Like all borders, it's teeming with
energy and fraught with danger.
At the Aqademy of the Qrossroads,
youth from many different species
come together to live and to learn.
This requires some ... accommodations.
They aren't all the same size or shape,
and they aren't all the same age.
Some species age fast, some slow,
and a rare few are immortal.
The Aqademy does not
discriminate based on
factors such as these.
It welcomes all young folk
who need to learn how
to handle their abilities.
So the chronological age
of students is noted, but it's
the developmental age of
their species and the skill
of the individuals that will
determine class placement.
There are protective spells
to prevent harm to anyone from
misfires or ordinary accidents.
There are warded rooms for
practice or times when control
is slipping or when someone just
really, really needs to breathe fire.
Familiars are permitted because
of their stabilizing influence on
students, and hopefully they aren't
both adolescents at the same time.
For those students who arrive
without a familiar but want one,
the Aqademy provides assistance.
Teachers speak with students
to determine when it's better
to match like with like, wings
with wings, horns with horns;
and when opposites attract,
fire and water making steam.
Not every wish can always
be accommodated, but there is
usually something for everyone,
and it works out all right in the end.
The dragon may be disappointed
that humans are not offered as
familiars, but the flitter-qat is cute
and has wings to fly alongside.
The dejected dragon lumbers
down the hall with the flitter-qat
headbunting under his chin, and
eventually the dragon cheers up.
Besides, there are still humans
who might turn out to be friends,
even though they aren't familiars.
Adolescence is a border stretching
between ignorance and knowledge.
Like all borders, it's teeming with
power and filled with possibility.
* * *
Notes:
"Adolescence is a border between childhood and adulthood. Like all borders, it's teeming with energy and fraught with danger."
-- Mary Pipher
Familiars are animals who bond with magical people.
Headbunting is a cat's way of saying "Mine! All mine!" with pheromone markers. If your cat is rubbing his head all over you, he is writing his name on you.
mama_kestrel and see_also_friend. It also fills the "WILD CARD: Wings" square in my 10-1-24 card for the Fall Fest Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by fuzzyred. It belongs to the series Quixotic Ideas."Between Childhood and Adulthood"
[October 15, 2024]
Adolescence is a border stretching
between childhood and adulthood.
Like all borders, it's teeming with
energy and fraught with danger.
At the Aqademy of the Qrossroads,
youth from many different species
come together to live and to learn.
This requires some ... accommodations.
They aren't all the same size or shape,
and they aren't all the same age.
Some species age fast, some slow,
and a rare few are immortal.
The Aqademy does not
discriminate based on
factors such as these.
It welcomes all young folk
who need to learn how
to handle their abilities.
So the chronological age
of students is noted, but it's
the developmental age of
their species and the skill
of the individuals that will
determine class placement.
There are protective spells
to prevent harm to anyone from
misfires or ordinary accidents.
There are warded rooms for
practice or times when control
is slipping or when someone just
really, really needs to breathe fire.
Familiars are permitted because
of their stabilizing influence on
students, and hopefully they aren't
both adolescents at the same time.
For those students who arrive
without a familiar but want one,
the Aqademy provides assistance.
Teachers speak with students
to determine when it's better
to match like with like, wings
with wings, horns with horns;
and when opposites attract,
fire and water making steam.
Not every wish can always
be accommodated, but there is
usually something for everyone,
and it works out all right in the end.
The dragon may be disappointed
that humans are not offered as
familiars, but the flitter-qat is cute
and has wings to fly alongside.
The dejected dragon lumbers
down the hall with the flitter-qat
headbunting under his chin, and
eventually the dragon cheers up.
Besides, there are still humans
who might turn out to be friends,
even though they aren't familiars.
Adolescence is a border stretching
between ignorance and knowledge.
Like all borders, it's teeming with
power and filled with possibility.
* * *
Notes:
"Adolescence is a border between childhood and adulthood. Like all borders, it's teeming with energy and fraught with danger."
-- Mary Pipher
Familiars are animals who bond with magical people.
Headbunting is a cat's way of saying "Mine! All mine!" with pheromone markers. If your cat is rubbing his head all over you, he is writing his name on you.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-10-16 10:25 pm (UTC)It sounds like it is possible, but disallowed (at least for students/children, which is probably sensible.)
(no subject)
Date: 2024-10-19 12:57 am (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2024-10-19 01:19 am (UTC)