SL_Culture_0519_Dept 5 / 13 / 19 3 : 00 PM Page 2 nonprofit that aims to close the literary culture gap between disadvantaged children and their more affluent peers . The Philadelphia - based organization works with pre - kinder - garten through fifth - grade teachers across the country to help children become better readers , writers , and thinkers through early Birthof a Poet literacy instruction . Last month she donated proceeds from MATILDA BRAY , A PRECOCIOUS WORDSMITH the sale of her book — more than $ 1,100 — to FROM BUCKS COUNTY , FINDS HER VOICE . CLI . She also visited a second - grade class at by Bill Donahue | photography by Heart and Soul Portraits Inquiry Charter School in Philadelphia , to field questions from students , talk about her approach to poetry , and discuss crowdfunding as a tool oanne Leva remembers to help aspiring writers get published . the first time she crossed “ Early literacy is important because it paths with Matilda L . J helps kids read to learn instead of them Bray . The interaction occurred having to learn to read later on ; it furthers at the Michener Art Museum in their success , ” says Amanda Alexander , de - Doylestown , likely some time velopment associate with CLI . “ That’s the in 2012 , during Liz Chang’s part Matilda was most excited about . … I tenure as poet laureate of Mont - was impressed with how poised she was , gomery County . and she was very encouraging to the students . “ One of the ways we distin - You could tell she was a master of her craft . ” guish ourselves is that we invite Bray finds inspiration in the genre’s most the poet laureate to develop a celebrated poets , including contemporary community project , and we writers such as Maya Angelou and Tracy K . work with them during the year Smith . ( See sidebar . ) Some of her favorite to create it and make it happen , ” poems include “ Stopping by Woods on a says Leva , executive director Snowy Evening ” by Robert Frost and “ Black - of the Montgomery County berry - Picking ” by Seamus Heaney , as well Poet Laureate program ( Mont - as Angelou’s “ On the Pulse of Morning . ” CoPoet.org ) . “ During Liz’s year “ One of my favorite things about poetry as poet laureate , she was doing is that people can interpret the same poem an ekphrastic poetry workshop , in different ways , ” Bray says . “ There’s not a where you use a piece of art as correct answer ; you do what fits best with a stimulus or catalyst to create your personality . I’m self - conscious about a poem . ” my poems , because I want to make it so the During this particular work - reader does have to think a lot before they shop , the group of aspiring poets can interpret it . ” was sitting around a table at the Bray , who is mulling a follow - up to Under Michener , when in walked a pre - the Moon as My Sun , attributes her early Hope Arts . She has also published her first cocious poet who introduced herself as success to the support of her family — her par - chapbook of poems , Under the Moon as My Matilda Bray . The group was surprised to ents , Chris and Tracy , her sister , Willa , and her Sun , with help from a successful crowdfunding see such a young girl so confident , so capable , dog , Tuck . She’s also thankful to the teachers campaign . While some of the book’s poems and so eager to participate alongside adults . and fellow poets who have provided encour - focus on everyday topics , such as math tests “ Matilda blew us all away , ” recalls Leva , agement and helped her hone her craft . In and cupcakes , she does not shy away from who lives in Lansdale . “ She can take an particular she cites Joanne Leva of the Mont - darker themes , such as the immorality of image or an experience and turn it into some - gomery County Poet Laureate program and factory farming . ( Editor’s note : Bray’s poem thing meaningful . … Technically speaking , Lorraine Henrie Lins , the 2010 Bucks County “ The Hippo , ” though brief , is a remarkable she’s very advanced . I’m stunned by the way Poet Laureate , both of whom are active in delight . ) The book’s title , she says , alludes to she begins a poem , and she will remain with Tekpoet , a collaborative through which expe - her ability to look at the world from a slightly the subject throughout . That’s something rienced poets mentor emerging talents . different perspective . other people have to work on for years — re - “ When I think of Matilda , I think of a day maining consistent with the image you begin in the not - too - distant future , ” Leva says . “ I’m ‘ A Master of Her Craft ’ with . She also knows when to end the poem . ” sitting in the audience and she’s standing at Starting with the first poem she ever wrote — In the years since , Bray has become the podium , and I see her accepting the “ about bullying and why not to do it ” — Bray something of a rising star in local poetry Bucks County Poet Laureate award . … She’s has used her words to try to make sense of a circles . The 13 - year - old New Hope - Solebury not intimidated by things that intimidate complex and sometimes confusing world . School District student has earned awards other people , and she has a youthful sense She wants others to experience the same joy . from organizations devoted to arts and culture , of wonder that touches every part of her life . With her parents ’ help , she linked arms with including the Main Street Voices Poetry Contest She’s just such a wonder to me . ” the Children’s Literary Initiative , a national and the Flash Poetry Festival hosted by New SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2019 20 |