by Nikki Grimes
Some words
sit still on the page
holding a story steady.
Those words
never get me into trouble.
But other words have wings
that wake my daydreams.
They fly in,
silent as sunrise,
tickle my imagination,
and carry my thoughts away.
I can’t help
but buckle up
for the ride!
Copyright © 2013 Nikki Grimes. From the book “Words with Wings.” Wordsong/Boyds Mills. Reprinted by permission of the author.
I have always been a daydreamer. I got into lots of trouble for it, in school, just like the girl in this poem. Daydreaming is a wonderful gift, though, and I wrote this poem, and this book, to celebrate it. If it weren’t for daydreaming, I wouldn’t be much of a writer!
New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes is the recipient of the 2006 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Her distinguished works include ALA Notable book What is Goodbye?, Coretta Scott King Award winner Bronx Masquerade, the novels Jazmin’s Notebook, Dark Sons, and The Road to Paris (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books). Creator of the popular Meet Danitra Brown, Ms. Grimes lives in Corona, California.
I like this poem because it reminds me of myself.
I daydream a lot. words come and go into my thoughts.