Part of growing up is finding out what your limits are – some people love rollercoasters, while others find them terrifying. Write 50 words about something you found scary, but fun, as a child. Share it with the class.
While Reading
You are about to read the poem Before by Ada Limón. The poet recalls riding on the back of her father’s motorbike when she was seven years old. This memory makes the poet think about lots of things that happened to her parents in the following years. The poet remembers feeling scared on the motorbike – but also feeling she would love to do it all again.
Before by Ada Limón
4
No shoes and a glossy red helmet, I rode on the back of my dad’s Harley at seven years old. Before the divorce. Before the new apartment. Before the new marriage. Before the apple tree.
Before the ceramics in the garbage. Before the dog’s chain. Before the koi were all eaten by the crane. Before the road between us, there was the road beneath us, and I was just big enough not to let go: Henno Road, creek just below, rough wind, chicken legs, and I never knew survival was like that. If you live, you look back and beg for it again, the hazardous bliss before you know what you would miss.
