The Soapbox Derby
reflective cinquain78 total reviews
Comment from Deejharrington
How very, very sad. What will be touched next? They say it is not like the Great Depression of the '30's, but I'm seeing less and less difference. You can't blame companies and people for "pulling in". Everybody is scared and don't know where and when it will all end! I feel badly for the Soap Box Derby, but it it's going to be just another victim on a very long list.
deb
reply by the author on 01-Aug-2009
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How very, very sad. What will be touched next? They say it is not like the Great Depression of the '30's, but I'm seeing less and less difference. You can't blame companies and people for "pulling in". Everybody is scared and don't know where and when it will all end! I feel badly for the Soap Box Derby, but it it's going to be just another victim on a very long list.
deb
Comment Written 01-Aug-2009
reply by the author on 01-Aug-2009
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Deb, thank you. I agree, I keep wondering what the next bad news will be - yesterday it was a news item about how many art galleries are going under. Brooke
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I'm surprised here in Detroit (auto-) sponcered art projects havent gone under, sympathy, DIA, Det. Opera Theater, etc.
deb
Comment from Gaye Hemsley
Hi Brooke What a shame this Derby has to go, on reading your author's notes it sounds such a fun outside activity. Your poem says it all in so few words and I just love the artwork. Cheers Gaye
reply by the author on 01-Aug-2009
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Hi Brooke What a shame this Derby has to go, on reading your author's notes it sounds such a fun outside activity. Your poem says it all in so few words and I just love the artwork. Cheers Gaye
Comment Written 01-Aug-2009
reply by the author on 01-Aug-2009
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It's not just a fun outside activity but a great activity in the weeks leading up the race when the children and parents build the car together. :-) Thanks, Gaye. Brooke
Comment from Rabianabian
I didn't know about this Derby... a good poem, though without knowing the concept it's hard to understand, I guess. Your notes help a lot. Great job. :)
reply by the author on 29-Jul-2009
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I didn't know about this Derby... a good poem, though without knowing the concept it's hard to understand, I guess. Your notes help a lot. Great job. :)
Comment Written 27-Jul-2009
reply by the author on 29-Jul-2009
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Thanks, Mary - it's a race down a hill for cars children build with their parents - no motors, just gravity. Brooke :-)
Comment from Peter@Poole
This is a powerful plea for a worthy cause to continue to receive financial support, Brooke, and it is clothed in the form of a perfect cinquain. I find myself challenged by your assertion that 'child's' has two aural syllables but decline to cross verbal swords with you. LOL Peter
reply by the author on 29-Jul-2009
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This is a powerful plea for a worthy cause to continue to receive financial support, Brooke, and it is clothed in the form of a perfect cinquain. I find myself challenged by your assertion that 'child's' has two aural syllables but decline to cross verbal swords with you. LOL Peter
Comment Written 27-Jul-2009
reply by the author on 29-Jul-2009
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Peter, thank you - sorry I've been neglectful, but Miranda always takes precedence when she's around. Today the in-laws have her, darned them!!! Tomorrow she and I will visit with her Aunt Bobbe. With my accent, it is extremely difficult to say child without two soft syllables. :-) Brooke
Comment from another jim
Your poem reminded me of a time MANY years ago when my best friend and I entered the local Soap Box Derby qualifier. We worked our tails off for weeks, then flipped a coin to see who would drive. Alas, he won. The big day came, and our car rolled(under its own power, of course) about twenty feet before the rear wheels fell off. Back to the drawing board!
I tell you this to demonstrate the power of good poetry. I hadn't thought about that fateful day for years, until this morning.
And now they're going broke? It's enough to make a grown man cry...
Loved your cinquain (I can say that now that I know what one is), and the pleasant memories it evoked. Thanks for sharing!
reply by the author on 27-Jul-2009
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Your poem reminded me of a time MANY years ago when my best friend and I entered the local Soap Box Derby qualifier. We worked our tails off for weeks, then flipped a coin to see who would drive. Alas, he won. The big day came, and our car rolled(under its own power, of course) about twenty feet before the rear wheels fell off. Back to the drawing board!
I tell you this to demonstrate the power of good poetry. I hadn't thought about that fateful day for years, until this morning.
And now they're going broke? It's enough to make a grown man cry...
Loved your cinquain (I can say that now that I know what one is), and the pleasant memories it evoked. Thanks for sharing!
Comment Written 27-Jul-2009
reply by the author on 27-Jul-2009
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Thank you, Jim, for sharing your memories with me - I'm glad my poem tapped into your experience. Yes, it is enough to make one cry! Brooke :-)
Comment from Fleedleflump
A sad thought, indeed. I am just old enough that my young days were spent building rickety tree-houses and playing football or tennis in the nearby fields. By my teens, I had a computer to play on, but I still enjoyed going outside to play, probably because I'd grown up doing it. Nowadays, fear and laziness seem to have teamed up to encourage parents to keep their children indoors...
Not that I'm anti-gaming; wuite the opposite, but I do think the culture shift is a shame.
Mike
reply by the author on 27-Jul-2009
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A sad thought, indeed. I am just old enough that my young days were spent building rickety tree-houses and playing football or tennis in the nearby fields. By my teens, I had a computer to play on, but I still enjoyed going outside to play, probably because I'd grown up doing it. Nowadays, fear and laziness seem to have teamed up to encourage parents to keep their children indoors...
Not that I'm anti-gaming; wuite the opposite, but I do think the culture shift is a shame.
Mike
Comment Written 27-Jul-2009
reply by the author on 27-Jul-2009
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I think the culture shift is a shame, too - I spent hours and hours of time indoors reading and practicing the piano, but nothing like kids today - even though I was THE MOST unathletic kid in the entire neighborhood, I still rode my bike, hiked down to the creek with the other kids, played tag and hopscotch - there was balance!!! Thanks so much, Mike. Brooke
Comment from AlvinTEthington
I like the message here, the subtle rhyme, the way the title works into the poem, the alliteration, and the turn at the last line. Until I looked it up, I had no idea that "child" could be two syllables (I should have read your notes before starting on this review!) You certainly taught me a lot in this didactic poem.
reply by the author on 27-Jul-2009
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I like the message here, the subtle rhyme, the way the title works into the poem, the alliteration, and the turn at the last line. Until I looked it up, I had no idea that "child" could be two syllables (I should have read your notes before starting on this review!) You certainly taught me a lot in this didactic poem.
Comment Written 27-Jul-2009
reply by the author on 27-Jul-2009
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It's one of those words I say with two soft/blurred beats. I really can't make it a single one without effort :-) Thanks so much, Alvin :-) Brooke
Comment from Jnetgame
Excellent cinquain poem. I appreciate your author's notes about the history of the annual Soap Box Derby. How sad that an activity that is so important to children may be shut down.
reply by the author on 27-Jul-2009
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Excellent cinquain poem. I appreciate your author's notes about the history of the annual Soap Box Derby. How sad that an activity that is so important to children may be shut down.
Comment Written 26-Jul-2009
reply by the author on 27-Jul-2009
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Thank you, and yes, it would be a total shame. Brooke :-)
Comment from Begin Again
Brooke...
A perfect soapbox to stand on! We do allow our younger generations to gravitate to television and video games, foregoing outdoor activities. Then we wonder why they have so many health issues.
The lack of sponsorship is very sad. W can give millions of dollars to race cars, horses, casinos, etc. but we are unable to maintain a healthy atmosphere for our children. Our society needs a wake up call.
I remember my brother and dad making their derby car. Several years later, the wheel became a steering wheel in a tree for my make believe boat next to the river. What a silly but pleasant memory.
Nice poem. I enjoyed it and your commentary. Carol
reply by the author on 27-Jul-2009
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Brooke...
A perfect soapbox to stand on! We do allow our younger generations to gravitate to television and video games, foregoing outdoor activities. Then we wonder why they have so many health issues.
The lack of sponsorship is very sad. W can give millions of dollars to race cars, horses, casinos, etc. but we are unable to maintain a healthy atmosphere for our children. Our society needs a wake up call.
I remember my brother and dad making their derby car. Several years later, the wheel became a steering wheel in a tree for my make believe boat next to the river. What a silly but pleasant memory.
Nice poem. I enjoyed it and your commentary. Carol
Comment Written 26-Jul-2009
reply by the author on 27-Jul-2009
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Carol, I'm glad you have good memories of your family's involvement in this race. Thanks for your great comments. Brooke :-)
Comment from Mike K2
I remember the kids that made them. I was basically the bolt holder and it was anything that one could beg, barter or sort of see a recycling value to create one. There weren't contests around here.
You poem is very nicely written and aptly illustrated, as you notes point out the problem of sponsorship. It is a shame that when the economy declines that companies don't band together at the greater value these events have for people. Another problems is that events such as this are constantly under assault from liability courts and insurance. Somewhere along the line, a child needs such pursuits as they gain so much learning at participating.
reply by the author on 27-Jul-2009
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I remember the kids that made them. I was basically the bolt holder and it was anything that one could beg, barter or sort of see a recycling value to create one. There weren't contests around here.
You poem is very nicely written and aptly illustrated, as you notes point out the problem of sponsorship. It is a shame that when the economy declines that companies don't band together at the greater value these events have for people. Another problems is that events such as this are constantly under assault from liability courts and insurance. Somewhere along the line, a child needs such pursuits as they gain so much learning at participating.
Comment Written 26-Jul-2009
reply by the author on 27-Jul-2009
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I'm so glad you have memories of this and find meaning in what I have to say, Mike :-) Brooke
