I Wrote Myself a Letter
I wrote myself a letter.
It’s true; I’m not pretending.
It’s filled with lots of juicy news
that soon I will be sending.
So, when I get it in the mail,
I’ll know what I’ve been doing—
the games I’ve played, the trades I’ve made,
the food that I’ve been chewing.
I told myself important stuff
that I should know about me.
I made it absolutely clear
I couldn’t live without me.
I gave myself some good advice
to keep myself on track.
And, maybe, if I’m lucky,
someday I’ll write me back.
— Ted Scheu
Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved. From Getting the Best of Me: 90 Favorite School and Family Poems. Young Poets' Press. Reprinted by permission of the author.
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About this Poem
Okay, have I ever written myself a letter? No, but I should. My mailbox seems emptier each day. Sad, I know. It’s a good idea. I think I’ll do it right now!
From Getting the Best of Me: 90 Favorite School and Family Poems
Here they are! A freshly-picked collection of 90 (Ninety!) of U.S. children’s poet Ted Scheu’s ‘funnest’ and most ‘heartful’ poems for kids generously fill these delicious pages, alongside stunning, heart-tickling photos of Vermont kids from the camera of Peter Lourie. Brimming with honesty and humor, this super-size prize holds many of Ted’s best verses about school and home, and everywhere in between. All from one of the galaxy’s top poets for children. Take a big bite, and enjoy! Here’s what J. Patrick Lewis, U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate (2011-2013) and award-winning children’s author had to say about Getting the Best of Me: “Ted Scheu resurrects his patented wackiness with poems about second-grade kisses, gold medals, funny bones, recycling, even his Great-Aunt Agnes. Predictable mischief abounds. In rollicking ballad verse, Getting the Best of Me gets the best of all of us.!” And more praise from Kenn Nesbitt, U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate (2013-2015): “It’s such a joy to read Ted Scheu’s poems. I mean that literally. There is so much JOY on every page of this book that you can’t help but smile the whole way through!”