Beyond the Textbook

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Beyond the Textbook

Laurie Lupold

I was really frazzled trying to think of what to come up with for this month's column. Sometimes this can be a great challenge. After much anticipation I was able to come up with something to activate the creative mind.

Many times what I do in this column is try to motivate the writer in you. Other times I might provide tips and trivia to educate your talent but for today let's see what we can creatively motivate.

This exercise is called a modeling exercise. The basis of it is to take something you read, preferably something you enjoyed reading, and model it. See how you can take the same concept and at times the same format and recreate it. Since I have done this before I will provide an example but an original so that you, the reader, aren't the only one challenged.

The Example:

Dedication

For every child who cries at night
Alone with shame and pain and fright
For every child who wants so much
To only feel a gentle touch
For the beaten child, who cries in pain
Whose tears run silent, like the rain
For the child used to satisfy lust
Who never learns to love or trust
For the child taken from her/his home
And made to feel so all alone
For the child whose home is just a shell
Where life becomes a living hell
For the child who smiles but cannot feel
Because of scars too deep to heal
For every child who yearns for love
I hope and pray to God above
To hear your cries and heal your pain
And give you back your life again

Author unknown

My version. I tend to use poetry for this exercise but you can use what you feel comfortable with. Wish me luck.

Dedication

For every child who feels pain
Sees no sunlight, only rain
For every child who's left bruised
Empty, lonely and abused
For the battered child, who cries at night
Left in a world of pain and fright
Used to fill an adult's need
Who's filled with lust, hate and greed
For the child stripped from his castle
His life being a constant hassle
For the child whose being has become empty
His life destroyed, his pain, destiny
For the child whose emotions are now numb
He cannot trust in anyone
For every child who deserves more
You might have heard this said before
I'll share your pain and feel your heart
From there we'll let the healing start.
Laurie Lupold
Š2003 All Rights Reserved

I pray I did the exercise right.
If not, please be polite.