Fragmented Soul

Over the years, through my volunteer work,  I have read a fair bit of writing by middle and high-school kids. Short personal statements but mostly scientific an analytical writing. Even with that being the scope, it is easy to see the flair some kids have for writing. It shines even when the topic does not lend itself to much creativity or drama. You can imagine the kid writing creative prose that would have a distinct voice. Reading this article about a teacher's experience teaching English to prison inmates, for some reason brought to mind Cadbury's Book of Children's Poetry - on of my favorite things to read as a kid. 

It used to filled me with wonder to see how kids my age and younger played with words and how they expressed thoughts I may have had myself without the artistry they did. It was deeply inspiring - much more that reading the works of established, well-regarding writers. The kids were way more relatable and yet so admirable. There is some parallel there - when you compare a prize-winning author whose writing gives most people food for thought and something created by a prisoner who never made it through high-school. 

In terms of raw life experience, the one with the "fragmented soul" may have a lot more to tell and teach us than someone who has had a more comfortable life relatively speaking. I often wondered what gives those kids in the Cadbury's book such perspective on life - maybe there were some tortured souls there too.