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Kathryn Linhardt, Poet
The
New World Finn is a cultural journal that not only explores Finnish culture,
but also delights in promoting artists, musicians, writers, scuptors, actors,
poets, and all that have an interest in this culture. Our youngest poet so
far is Kathryn Linhardt. She has written four more poems since the New World
Finn published her first one in the October-December, 2002 issue. Here they
are with an afterword by Richard Huhta, her grandfather. Kathryn turned 10
years old on April 7 of this year.
The Breeze
The breeze sings to me as it welcomes me outdoors. I
listen to its gentle voice as I slowly fall asleep. When
I awaken we skip and play, as though the day would never end.Sour
Sweet it’s not
On your tongue.
Useful in lemonade.
Recommended for lime tea.
Peaceful
It is early,
dawn rises
I sit up and look out at the lovely colors
Pink, blue, yellow, green and orange
It is very peaceful
sitting there looking
The Sun & the Moon
The sun, the sun burning bright!
giving others such a fright!
Striking heat all through the sky
It’s too hot! it’s too hot!
The temperature too high
You wonder why?
A vicious battle is happening here
The moon, the moon
calm and peaceful.
waiting,waiting.
The moon wants peace
The sun wants war.
We can do nothing any more.
The moon wants dark
The sun wants light.
Oh my what a fight!
Oh my what a fight.
In the end the sun and moon make a truce
They are not to fight.
There is no war.
They’re not angry any more.
"The first three poems were written as classroom assignments under the same conditions as the first one: in the class room with no guidance from the teacher, no coaching from either her parents or grandparents. The last poem – The Sun and the Moon – was written for me one day when she was over visiting with us. She did several things with this last poem: The entire poem was written in color. The first paragraph on the sun was written in a reddish orange to reflect the heat of the sun. The second paragraph on the moon was written in blue to reflect the evening and the final paragraph was written in the same color as the first paragraph. Additionally, she used three different type faces, one for each paragraph to reflect, first, the size and strength or masculinity of the Sun (my words, not hers) and in the second paragraph to reflect the femininity and the romantic nature (again, my words, not hers) of the Moon. Finally, the first paragraph was written in 14 pt. Arial Black, the second paragraph in 18 pt Aristocrat LET, and the third paragraph in 18 pt French Script. I know the type sizes sound large, but they really are not, particularly the latter two. I was particularly impressed with the way she combined type faces and color with the subjects in her poem." Richard Huhta