My First Paper Snowflake
(Tweeted Dec 12, 2015 - Jan 19, 2016)
A bell went off.
It was end of class.
The lesson was long.
We could play at last.
Our young language teacher
in her beige qipao
tried to calm her 7-year-olds
before they vanished into the yard.
We moaned together
as we froze mid way.
What could be worse
than an unexpected delay?
She spoke above the noise
to get our full attention.
We grunted to her request
to this un-needed detention.
“Children, I won’t take long
just take a step forward.”
“Guess what I kept in this book?”,
prompting something she treasured.
She lifted the volume
then balanced the spine.
The pages parted gently
as she opened her palms.
Like a time-lapsed movie
filming a blossoming flower.
With pages as petals
revealing a center.
For those at the back
necks craned like a spy.
For those at the front
smiles amplified.
Teacher’s grin widened
as we followed her gaze.
She lifted up something…
like grannie’s doily crochet.
Was it a flower?
Or was it a lace?
T'was too flat to be either,
My gosh,…a Paper Snowflake!
There were oooh’s and ahhh’s
you’d probably guessed.
Some almost forgot
their much needed recess.
Our teacher felt proud
she captured our attention.
Then ended the class
with the following condition:
“For those who are interested
please stay a bit behind.
I will take you to my office,
there’re more breath-taking designs!”
You have any idea
what this invite meant to me?
My seven-year-old heart
almost skipped a beat.
Already at the door
was my best friend Mei-Yee.
She took one look and knew
she’d be going without me.
She nodded understandably
as we exchanged our secret code.
From her wink I could tell
there’d be a favour owed.
Maybe a page of stickers?
Or a pencil of Hello Kitty?
She could definitely choose,
and even have my cookie!
A handful of girls and I
quickly formed a line.
Walking behind Teacher
to staff room under a sign.
What a strange, proud feeling
as we greeted the clerks;
to come to this room
not of missed homework!
I must have been happy
skip-hopping all the way.
All I could think of, was
“TO LEARN THIS CRAFT TODAY”.
She used mini-scissors
for these intricate formations?
Must have taken her ages
with tremendous concentration.
Tons of questions appeared
in the little head of mine.
I am Determined to find out
how to achieve these symmetrical designs.
********************************
As to be expected
the staff room was exclusive.
It gave an authoritative aura;
one could feel like a captive.
The room that day was sunny
huge windows to one side.
Blinds were tilted halfway,
much easier for our eyes.
Wooden desks of many
strategically placed.
In pairs they faced each other
like booths in a cosy café.
********************************
Our curiosity was rising
as Teacher reached under table.
Out came a tin box
nothing could be more simple!
This mysterious article
had its own momentous entrance.
The sun deflected on it;
rays blinded us for a second.
With squinted eyes we saw
a commonly square tin.
Teacher exerted her fingers
and ‘pop’ went the lid.
We, of course, tiptoed
to peek what was inside.
And let me reassure you
it was a feast to my eyes.
I’d never seen so many
paper swatches galore.
Some were in piles;
others too pretty to ignore.
The Textured ones were Attractive.
The Shinny batches were Catchy.
The See-thru stack looked Exquisite
The Sparkled kinds just Angelic.
Eagerly in turn we picked
following Teacher’s instruction.
“Please No! That one was mine!”
Indeed, some anxious situations.
With papers we finally chose
were shown ‘first’ how to fold:
“Sharp creases were essential
for these origami triangles.”
********************************
The simplest of steps
appeared of no importance.
But always be mindful
they’re the Law of Consequence.
Harmony of Balance.
Symmetry of Proportion.
Both rely on Equilibrium
from our Original Decisions.
With craft scissors in hands
for us to imitate.
Her wrist was quick and skillful
as paper bits fell away.
She watched us followed and applied
then opened hers halfway.
Ah! That’s how the designs came by!
Every cut was in ‘8’ multiplied!
Teacher was right.
The lines got to be straight!
If corners not matched
we got a ‘lopsided’ snowflake!
********************************
I could not explain then
what this experience did for me.
Only recently I realized
its significance was Mighty!
What does one expect
from a grade 2 language teacher?
Besides coaching us on syntax,
what more could she offer?
Now I'm ready to tell you
how her effort spoke to me.
For a year at home I practised
every chance after I studied.
Smart that I thought of
my mom’s manicure scissors.
They were the best tools
for cutting small curvy edges.
I tried lots on newsprints
then trained on used gift wrappers.
When I was really good enough
I advanced to special papers.
Every two snowflakes I made
Teacher gifted two new pieces of paper.
She kept one of my creations,
I got to keep the other.
How long I kept this exchange?
I didn't quite remember.
But this was how I started
my affinity to Papers.
I made lots of new friends.
Snowflakes I gave as favours.
The word soon got around:
the girl who walked with a folder.
Not sure what happened
to the rest of the other girls?
But paper snowflakes became
my elementary school signature.
********************************
That staff room 15-minute break
jump started a passionate labour.
When nice papers came by
I collected them like a personal fever!
But Life threw us curve balls
as if to test our amnesia.
All my childhood collection
got lost when I came to Canada.
So that’s what happened to us
we moved on in Life as expected.
But could we truly forget
something once so deeply rooted?
Lately in worklife I pondered
I was somewhere shy of “Colours”.
It’s a place I wish to belong;
only along craft aisles I lingered.
Then, was it circumstance?
Or, could it be part of a Plan?
‘Space’ arrived ‘Disguised’,
---
---
---
---
---
---
---took us a while to Realize!
In short,
a true life story;
condensed
from half a century:
A seed first invited into a hobby;
a hobby got dared into a dream;
a dream evolved into a workroom;
this space now becomes a company!
If by chance you took a glance
into my Symphony workshop,
you would begin to understand
how moved by my teacher I felt back then.
********************************
What’s worth a quarter of an hour
to anyone in particular?
But I believe this rightly so:
It’s the best thing we could do for Another.
Like a handful of growing seeds,
just sow and let them land.
No need to count or worry.
They’re taken care of on the other end.
Equate it to an Energy Transfer:
an exchange of Human Power.
A sample of Someone’s Ripple
awakening a Seeker’s Answer.
Anyone could Share.
Anyone could Inspire.
Anyone could Motivate.
SYNERGY… Delivers.
If you ask me once again
how Symphony Of Our Hearts came by?
I have another person to thank:
My Teacher - a Heroine personified.
Have you ever doubted
how crucial a Choice could be?
Would I still be here
if paper snowflakes meant nothing to me?
Take a device that needs DATA
has to borrow a connecting mate.
Once hotspot’s properly tethered
their invisible Bond is encrypted forever.
No matter how long the time,
no matter how far the distance
as long as the need exists
they’ll always Recognize each other.
A seed could lay Dormant.
A memory could be Archived.
But once they met their Catalyst
conditions for Change are Satisfied.
All positive emitting energies
have their abilities to “Gather”.
Like a tuning fork for violins,
or the oboe in an orchestra.
Let’s thrive to give our best
by the frequency we represent.
Staying true to our own vibration;
a promise of a life-long Quest.
No need to fear “Not Enough”.
No need to concern “ I'm not Worthy”.
No need to matter “Not the Right Time”.
SOMEONE... is always READY!
********************************
Have Faith in our littlest VOICES.
Under estimate them ‘Never’.
One day they could make a difference
as Another's life Game-Changer!
A “catalyst” is a chemical term;
describing a Change Facilitator.
Its biological counterpart
I call this: an EFFECTOR!
If we’d be each other’s catalyst,
we're also each other’s EFFECTOR.
When we step up from “Within”
we can change the World Together!
This is Symphony's vision.
Let's embrace this new Idea.
Hand-in-Hands we create
a Reality that’s ‘Better’.
Ancient medicine believed
this formulation of Cure:
It takes 3 positive energies
as 1 negative’s neutralizer.
Life’s sweetest Melodies
& Memories of Stories
are built upon our Gratitude
with our Hearts in Symphony!
Exchange minutes of our presence,
re-capturing a memorable moment.
Travelling back in time
cherishing friendship like a present.
A message of Support;
a letter of Encouragement;
a comment of Inspiration;
even an important Realignment…
If you know it in your heart
having something important to say,
please don’t wait till tomorrow;
Fulfill it you must Today.
Light a candle I invite.
Turn on your music if you may.
Sit back and take your time;
write a ‘Note' you’ve been wanting to say.
i …Build a card,
You… Move the World,
one 'Note' at a time.
||: ♫ ♫ ♫ | ♪ ♪♫♫ | ♫♪ ♫♪ | ♫ ♫ ♫ :||
||:Compose your Symphony today! :||
My signature paper snowflake perfected by age 7.
