The opening of Frank P. Thomas’ book “How to Write the Story of Your Life” (Publisher: Writer’s Digest Book, an imprint of F+W Publications) reads as such:
“HOW DO YOU VIEW your life?
Far too modestly perhaps. Yet your life is important. It is as unique as your fingerprints. It is a precious piece of time that should not be forgotten. There has only been one life lived like yours in all time, and only you can leave an accurate account of it.”
So? How do you view your life? In the first of a twenty part series of prompts, we will see just who you think you are. When finished, we will have written a memoir in poetry.
PART I – WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
This week Marie and I ask you to write the poem as an acrostic, using your full name as the subject. The title of your poem should be “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, (Your Name Here)?”
Your poem should touch on your life, or some aspect of it until now. Remember, the focus is you! Tell us. Who do you think you are?
MARIE ELENA’S INSIGHT:
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, MARIE ELENA GOOD?
Merciful. She finds it easy to be merciful, as she experiences daily the mercy of her God.
Approachable. Welcoming eyes and ready smile … not peculiar enough to frighten, nor so lovely as to intimidate.
Redeemed. Sinner-deemed-sinless, a debt she can’t pay.
Indebted. Humbly and deeply thankful for parents who taught much, and loved regardless; an abundance of encouraging, uplifting, loyal friends and extended family; and mostly her Creator, whose unyielding love, grace, and mercy breathe her very existence.
Enthusiastic. Taught by her father that “Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm.”
Enthralled. Captivated by life, love, and words.
Lazy. Often rising with the sun to walk the beach in Naples three decades ago, she now lazily hits the snooze three or four or six times rather than rise to take a short morning walk.
Encourager. “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Nonna. Her favorite vocation, hands down.
Athletic. …and sometimes, she blatantly lies. 
Gullible. Too quick to say, “Really? Wow!” then later slap forehead with the all-too-familiar, “Oh. Duh.”
Observant. Truly, about as observant as she is athletic. (Read, “Blatantly lies.”)
Oldfashioned. Dreams of returning to days when morals were more than just folklore.
Dandelion lover. … but only in poetry and fields. Not in her yard.
© Marie Elena Good – 2012
MY WALTER EGO:
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, WALTER WOJTANIK?
Wildly weird and wonderful,
Another in a
Long line of like named gents.
Taught to respect his elders and teach his children.
Even when he is at a loss for words, he’ll
Regale you with his verbosity.
Who is this monstrosity of poet prowess to think he could
Overpower the world of metered rhyme by his sheer numbers?
Just put it this way,
The day he is silenced is the day
Another Walt has been relegated to dust.
Never faint of heart; he can’t start to explain
It. But to name it, his style would elicit a smile and make you think of the
Kinetic poetics he spews. Then you might have him pegged!
© Walter J. Wojtanik – 2012
P.S. CORRECTION: The acrostic form is a requirement of the prompt. There is a method to Walt’s madness that sometimes my partner doesn’t even understand at first. A little discipline never hurts!
I stand (actually sit) corrected! 
~ meg
Oh, stand up and take a bow! My madness ebbs and flows!
