Little Blue Egg
I found
on the ground
a little blue egg.
On the egg
I found
a hole.
There is no bird
in the little blue egg.
I wonder
where
it’s gone.
In my favorite Calvin and Hobbes, Calvin digs a hole. He finds rocks, a root, and some grubs, announcing with delight, “There’s treasure everywhere!” I love that he thinks of these things as treasures, in part because I do too. These are exactly the kinds of treasures I look for when I go for walks. And every time I go out and look for them, I find them because Calvin’s right–there’s treasure everywhere.
When I was in Boyds Mill, PA for the Highlights Foundation workshop last week, I found this egg outside the door of my cabin.
I’ve broken some poetry “rules” with this poem. I’ve set up a bit of a pattern in the first two stanzas, but I don’t follow the pattern throughout. Also, though it’s a poem for young readers and has a strong meter, it doesn’t rhyme. I tried many drafts of this poem, following the usual rules, but I kept coming back to this version, which seems to sing the right song for this slightly sad and mysterious egg.
What treasures are outside your door?
For more Poetry Friday visit Betsy at Teaching Young Writers.
(c) Elizabeth Steinglass, 2013, all rights reserved
Who doesn’t love Calvin and Hobbes?!
Calvin and Hobbes is definitely a treasure!
It reads wonderfully without the rules. Lovely treasure!
Thanks, Catherine.
Liz: I’m been a C&H fan for years. Terrific little gem of a poem. I’d keep it just like it is. Enjoyed meeting you in person at Honesdale. Loving Poetry Friday! Happy weekend. Helen
Hi Helen,
It was great to meet you in Honesdale, but it’s also great to see you here. With Poetry Friday we can get together all the time.
Thanks for visiting and commenting!
Liz
Rules, shmules…some poems just need to be written by their own rules – and this one is just right. I love when we find a broken egg on the ground. I always imagine the baby bird learning to fly and kicking it out of the nest. Lovely poem and thanks for reminding me of Calvin – love that guy! =)
Thanks Bridget,
Your interpretation is much more positive than mine. When I find a broken egg I always assume it’s been eaten. I’ll have to remember your image from now on.
“Treasures everywhere” is my perception also…along with Bridget’s “rules, shmules”! Together they make grand poems!
Thanks Donna. My daughter once got a fortune cookie that said, “Treasure what you have.” We repeat that one all the time.
I love the wondering in this poem, and the fact that it isn’t resolved — and the lack of rhyme at the end adds to that, I think.
Thanks Ruth. I’m glad the lack of end rhyme seems to resonate with the meaning.
For some reason “hole” and “gone” did echo each other to me, even though they don’t rhyme per se. Something about the “o” seeming like an egg and also zero.
I like that–about the o being like an egg and zero and emptiness.
Sometimes rules need to be broken. I love your last line. That could lead to some interesting discussions with young readers. Isn’t that shade of blue also incredible?
Yes, Bridget and I had very different interpretations of what happened to the egg. And yes, that blue is incredible. I’ve seen three broken robin eggs this spring and I think it’s the blue that draws my attention.
I love little bird eggs. Beautiful picture to accompany a beautiful little poem.
Thanks Betsy. I’m planning some chalk-a-brations on the sidewalk in front of the house this summer.
Liz, I love it! Your poem is PERFECT! What a lucky find!
I wonder if your robin is an offspring of the one I photographed nesting outside Robin Hood Black’s cabin (May 2012)? I too love Calvin and his wonderful attitude.
Hi Cory,
It’s good to “see” you. When I saw the egg I looked up and found the nest in the tree above me, right beside my cabin. Maybe it was indeed an offspring of the robin you photographed.
Liz
P.S. I’m so glad you made it to Italy with Julie. What an incredible trip.
Your poem reminds me of finding robins’ eggs under a tree in my grandmother’s front yard when I was little. I did treasure them! And the fortune in your daughter’s cookie is such good advice. We are indeed surrounded by treasures!