School picture
first grade,
Mother had me wear
a starched white blouse
and a pleated skirt.
She pinned her Dutch girls
at my neck.
The night before
I had difficulty sleeping,
the hard curlers
cut into my head
trying to make pipe curls
of my stubborn hair.
"Remember to smile,"
my mother said.
"And if it's a good photo
we'll send it to your grandmother."
Why is it we are told to smile for photographs? Why do we dress up? What are some other occasions you have to dress up for? Can you write a poem about one of those occasions? Do have fun. Use your imagination and make up an event. Tell us what you'll wear.
