Cartoon Physics, part 1
by Nick Flynn
Children under, say, ten, shouldn’t know
that the universe is ever-expanding,
inexorably pushing into the vacuum, galaxies
swallowed by galaxies, whole
solar systems collapsing, all of it
acted out in silence. At ten we are still learning
the rules of cartoon animation,
that if a man draws a door on a rock
only he can pass through it.
Anyone else who tries
will crash into the rock. Ten-year-olds
should stick with burning houses, car wrecks,
ships going down — earthbound, tangible
disasters, arenas
where they can be heroes. You can run
back into a burning house, sinking ships
have lifeboats, the trucks will come
with their ladders, if you jump
you will be saved. A child
places her hand on the roof of a school bus,
& drives across a city of sand. She knows
the exact spot it will skid, at which point
the bridge will give, who will swim to safety
& who will be pulled under by sharks. She will learn
that if a man runs off the edge of a cliff
he will not fall
until he notices his mistake.
I have noticed poems posted all over on blogs and websites by people who did not write them. I’ve been told you’re really not supposed to do that without permission. I want to ask Nick Flynn for permission but couldn’t stand to wait to post this favorite poem at this moment in the school year as we move closer to PAARC testing in Colorado.
I believe in copyrights for creators and I also believe in sharing great creations. I will take it down if I have to.
In education, there are generous rules for copying and sharing that apply according to numbers and purpose. I’ve always understood that broader permission as recognition of the value of sharing for the purpose of our children’s learning and growth.
The messages in this poem mean more to me every time I read it. The ten year old in me who wants to trust that everything will be okay even if I take a leap off a cliff–even if I share a beloved great poem without checking first, it will be okay because my motives are innocent. Let our children dream.