John Rybicki: Waves of Inspiration

Since 2002, Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo has been turning to poet John Rybicki to inspire and bring out children's inner voices. Widely published in some of the best literary magazines around, including a recent feature in Encore Magazine, John has also published three books. His latest collection of poems, We Bed Down Into Water, is available from Northwestern University Press.

For those who know John Rybicki, it is difficult to decipher when he is reciting poetry and when he is simply engaged in conversation. His poetic voice spills over into all he does. He has a habit of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Take the humble light switch, for instance. How would you describe a light switch? Is it even worthy of description? To John Rybicki it is, "the one hard star you are in charge of..."

John is three weeks into his poetry workshop with a group of sixth grade students when I arrive one afternoon at Hillside Middle School. He begins by setting a large, square box on the table and says, "This ancient gal approached me and said 'I have a present for you.'" He lifts the box and removes a beautiful, homemade book.

The ancient gal, turns out, is a fan who had translated several of her favorite Rybicki poems into Braille. The students ask permission to touch the Braille. John nods his head. Ever so solemnly they brush their fingertips over the bumpy poems. He talks to them in a hushed tone about the way the poems look on the paper. For several minutes, they huddle together, all talking softly. And then they return to their seats.

"Ok, now imagine if you lived to be 10,000 years old. Close your eyes and see yourself as an old, wise gal." I look around the room, surprised that most of the students have closed their eyes. These students seem to trust where John will lead them. He reminds them that poetry involves taking "tired words" and describing something in a way that "should ignite" when a reader's eyes see them.  "You are the great translator for all time," he proclaims. "Imagine everyone has gone blind. How do you conjure up this day for them? What words would you pull from your mind to describe it?"

The students, while sitting respectfully, are quiet. He tries a different approach. "What's a hanky?" he asks.

"A fancy Kleenex," says one girl.

"Now look out the window." Heads swivel and all eyes gaze upon the school grounds. "What do you see?"

"Grass," respond the students.

"You know how Walt Whitman described grass? He compared it to a green hanky dropped by God." As he says this he holds his hand up and from between his thumb and forefinger, he releases an imaginary hanky of grass. We watch it float to the ground. All eyes return to the grass outside.  Except this time, the eyes are bigger, as if some fabulous secret about grass has just been revealed.

John Rybicki has them-all of us-in the palm of his hand.

He then tells them that there are moments in this life-their lives-that should not be lost. There are stories that only they can tell. John is like a tidal wave, growing more powerful by the moment. He smears the board with words from the ordinary world.  Firefly. Moon. Shadow.  The students are being carried along in a spray of words and seem to enjoy this wild ride. They grow bigger and braver, beginning to speak aloud their own stories and create poetry. Before this journey is over, no doubt several will find themselves swept away by the Rybicki wave and stepping out onto new lands.

Photo: John Rybicki inspires students at Hillside Middle School.