"The Steven Fromholz Texas Poet Laureate Words & Music Program for Texas School Children" |
| Steven Fromholz - Texas Poet Laureate |
As 2007 Texas Poet Laureate, Steven Fromholz took his message
of words, poetry and music to all Texas school children and his
travels took him border-to-border of the entire state.
of words, poetry and music to all Texas school children and his
travels took him border-to-border of the entire state.
Having been named Texas Poet Laureate in 2007, Steven began to plan how he
would use the honor to contribute to the State of Texas. Poet Laureates, of any
state, usually speak at college, universities and other centers of academia. His
first comment was that he was a musician and not an academic in the general
sense of the word.
He ultimately decided that his best and most important message could be
taken to middle and high school students so he designed the "Steven
Fromholz Texas Poet Laureate Words & Music Program for Texas School
Children." First of all he wanted to tell the kids what a Texas Poet Laureate
was. The mission of the program was to instill in Texas school children the
desire to read avidly, write books/ poetry and become involved in the
performing arts - including music.
The honor of Texas Poet Laureate is an unpaid honor and has no specific
duties. It was Steven's idea that such an honor should be shared with fellow
Texas citizens and the arts promoted at every opportunity. Financing such a
venture would be the problem, as at that time, gas was close to $4.00 a gallon
and the entire project would involve driving, often staying in motels overnight
and meals while on the road.
Obviously, the project was blessed as about that time The Texas Commission
on the Arts called Steven to advise him that as Poet Laureate he would have a
one-month residency in New England to write and study -- all expenses paid.
Steven was, at that time, unable to take advantage of the residency and
inquired as to using those funds to get his "Words & Music" program off the
ground -- and the Commission agreed! It wouldn't be enough money to
subsidize the entire program but Steven reached deep in his pocket and
subsidized the rest personally -- for a year!
He contacted schools and libraries and made his availability known and that
there was no charge to the schools or libraries whatsoever -- and the
invitations poured in. To an entity they all said it was the first time they'd had an
opportunity to host such a program -- or that a Texas Poet Laureate had
included them in his appearance schedule. The invitations were from the Gulf
Coast to the Panhandle and far West Texas to the Piney Woods of East Texas.
The traveling began immediately and it actually took over a year to fulfill all the
requests -- lots and lots of miles!
I accompanied Steven on many of these trips and was therefore privvy to the
reception his program received from the kids -- they were, in fact elated and
their interest was nearly overwhelming. Steven always took questions from the
kids and teachers at the end of his presentation and one specifically stands
out in my mind.
We were in a small rural school and all the kids had asked a gazillion
questions. Steven asked who among the kids wrote stories, poetry or music. I
was sitting in the back of the room and one rather slight, little kid with horn
rimmed glasses kept trying to put his hand up but he was just too shy. I
watched as he repeatedly tried to get his arm in the air (he was sitting on the
back row) but finally gave up and just sat quietly and listened. When the
program was over; I asked him if he had a question for Steven. He answered
"No, ma'am." I then asked, "Well, it seemed you wanted to put your arm up --
do you write?"
"Yes, ma'am, but I decided I'd better not say anything because my daddy says
that's just for sissies." At that point this old lady nearly screamed out loud!
How in the world could any adult discourage a child from reading or writing? I
thought about it for a bit and finally went up and whispered in Steven's ear. I
told him what had happened and asked if when he had a moment would he
come and speak with my little, shy friend. He said he would.
The little boy's eyes got big as saucers when Steven approached him. He
looked like a little turtle trying to ooze back in it's shell. Steven called him by
name and sat down at the desk next to him and began asking questions. In no
time at all the child had opened up and was excitedly telling Steven about the
stories he wrote and his poetry. He shyly took a crinkled up piece of paper out
of his pocket which proved to be a poem he'd written. Steven encouraged him
to read it out loud -- but only to him. It was a beautiful, short, absolutely
exquisite piece of work -- and insightful beyond belief. The child had talent.
After visiting another few minutes; Steven moved on to another child and I was
left alone with my small, poetic friend.
His little face was glowing like the sun coming up. It made me wonder if anyone
had ever acknowledged his work -- or in fact, had he ever shown it to anyone
before? There was no way of knowing and not a lot I could do to improve the
situation he had at home but for sure I was going to do something before I left.
"Does that big guy in the white hat over there -- the one you were just talking to
-- does he look like a sissy to you?" I asked.
"Oh, no ma'am," the child excitedly assured me, "He's about the not-sissiest
person I ever saw. He looks and talks like a cowboy and my daddy says
cowboy's aren't sissies."
"Well, in that case, you're not a sissy because you write; the guy in the white
hat is an important writer in the State of Texas -- in fact, in the whole United
States. "
His little face was a gaggle of grins. "Why, yes, ma'am, that's right; isn't it?"
"Yep, sure is!" I replied.
Once Steven and I were back in the truck and again heading down the highway
to our next school; I told him about my final conversation with the shy boy. A
wonderful, satisfied look was on Steven's face as he replied:
"I reached a child -- how wonderful is that?"
Steven's "Words & Music" Program received no press, very few (other than
teachers and libraries) knew about it and it was never acknowledged by the
State of Texas -- or anyone else. That's the way he did it. It was for the children
and it made no difference if anyone else ever knew about it or acknowledged it.
I read today where a recently named Poet Laureate has decided to visit
schools during the year's tenure and there's quite a bally-hoo about it as it's
such a "novel" idea. Novel or not -- it's a good idea and I hope it's a huge
success -- our kids deserve it.
I know my brother holds his year with the kids very close to his heart --
especially the shy boy in the back of the room. I'll never think of that kid
without Steven's words echoing in my head: "I reached a child -- how
wonderful is that?" Pretty damned wonderful, I'd say!
-- Angela Blair
would use the honor to contribute to the State of Texas. Poet Laureates, of any
state, usually speak at college, universities and other centers of academia. His
first comment was that he was a musician and not an academic in the general
sense of the word.
He ultimately decided that his best and most important message could be
taken to middle and high school students so he designed the "Steven
Fromholz Texas Poet Laureate Words & Music Program for Texas School
Children." First of all he wanted to tell the kids what a Texas Poet Laureate
was. The mission of the program was to instill in Texas school children the
desire to read avidly, write books/ poetry and become involved in the
performing arts - including music.
The honor of Texas Poet Laureate is an unpaid honor and has no specific
duties. It was Steven's idea that such an honor should be shared with fellow
Texas citizens and the arts promoted at every opportunity. Financing such a
venture would be the problem, as at that time, gas was close to $4.00 a gallon
and the entire project would involve driving, often staying in motels overnight
and meals while on the road.
Obviously, the project was blessed as about that time The Texas Commission
on the Arts called Steven to advise him that as Poet Laureate he would have a
one-month residency in New England to write and study -- all expenses paid.
Steven was, at that time, unable to take advantage of the residency and
inquired as to using those funds to get his "Words & Music" program off the
ground -- and the Commission agreed! It wouldn't be enough money to
subsidize the entire program but Steven reached deep in his pocket and
subsidized the rest personally -- for a year!
He contacted schools and libraries and made his availability known and that
there was no charge to the schools or libraries whatsoever -- and the
invitations poured in. To an entity they all said it was the first time they'd had an
opportunity to host such a program -- or that a Texas Poet Laureate had
included them in his appearance schedule. The invitations were from the Gulf
Coast to the Panhandle and far West Texas to the Piney Woods of East Texas.
The traveling began immediately and it actually took over a year to fulfill all the
requests -- lots and lots of miles!
I accompanied Steven on many of these trips and was therefore privvy to the
reception his program received from the kids -- they were, in fact elated and
their interest was nearly overwhelming. Steven always took questions from the
kids and teachers at the end of his presentation and one specifically stands
out in my mind.
We were in a small rural school and all the kids had asked a gazillion
questions. Steven asked who among the kids wrote stories, poetry or music. I
was sitting in the back of the room and one rather slight, little kid with horn
rimmed glasses kept trying to put his hand up but he was just too shy. I
watched as he repeatedly tried to get his arm in the air (he was sitting on the
back row) but finally gave up and just sat quietly and listened. When the
program was over; I asked him if he had a question for Steven. He answered
"No, ma'am." I then asked, "Well, it seemed you wanted to put your arm up --
do you write?"
"Yes, ma'am, but I decided I'd better not say anything because my daddy says
that's just for sissies." At that point this old lady nearly screamed out loud!
How in the world could any adult discourage a child from reading or writing? I
thought about it for a bit and finally went up and whispered in Steven's ear. I
told him what had happened and asked if when he had a moment would he
come and speak with my little, shy friend. He said he would.
The little boy's eyes got big as saucers when Steven approached him. He
looked like a little turtle trying to ooze back in it's shell. Steven called him by
name and sat down at the desk next to him and began asking questions. In no
time at all the child had opened up and was excitedly telling Steven about the
stories he wrote and his poetry. He shyly took a crinkled up piece of paper out
of his pocket which proved to be a poem he'd written. Steven encouraged him
to read it out loud -- but only to him. It was a beautiful, short, absolutely
exquisite piece of work -- and insightful beyond belief. The child had talent.
After visiting another few minutes; Steven moved on to another child and I was
left alone with my small, poetic friend.
His little face was glowing like the sun coming up. It made me wonder if anyone
had ever acknowledged his work -- or in fact, had he ever shown it to anyone
before? There was no way of knowing and not a lot I could do to improve the
situation he had at home but for sure I was going to do something before I left.
"Does that big guy in the white hat over there -- the one you were just talking to
-- does he look like a sissy to you?" I asked.
"Oh, no ma'am," the child excitedly assured me, "He's about the not-sissiest
person I ever saw. He looks and talks like a cowboy and my daddy says
cowboy's aren't sissies."
"Well, in that case, you're not a sissy because you write; the guy in the white
hat is an important writer in the State of Texas -- in fact, in the whole United
States. "
His little face was a gaggle of grins. "Why, yes, ma'am, that's right; isn't it?"
"Yep, sure is!" I replied.
Once Steven and I were back in the truck and again heading down the highway
to our next school; I told him about my final conversation with the shy boy. A
wonderful, satisfied look was on Steven's face as he replied:
"I reached a child -- how wonderful is that?"
Steven's "Words & Music" Program received no press, very few (other than
teachers and libraries) knew about it and it was never acknowledged by the
State of Texas -- or anyone else. That's the way he did it. It was for the children
and it made no difference if anyone else ever knew about it or acknowledged it.
I read today where a recently named Poet Laureate has decided to visit
schools during the year's tenure and there's quite a bally-hoo about it as it's
such a "novel" idea. Novel or not -- it's a good idea and I hope it's a huge
success -- our kids deserve it.
I know my brother holds his year with the kids very close to his heart --
especially the shy boy in the back of the room. I'll never think of that kid
without Steven's words echoing in my head: "I reached a child -- how
wonderful is that?" Pretty damned wonderful, I'd say!
-- Angela Blair
Photo by George Brainard, Austin, TX
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