Amber Tamblyn, Quick Poem

I saw Ambler Tamblyn’s interview on Jay Leno tonight and was very impressed. She’s Joan of Arcadia, has a new movie in the theaters (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants), daughter of Russ Tamblyn. Here’s her web site: http://www.amtam.com/. She has great advice for would-be actors (5% of screen actor guild members actually work), and has a new book about poetry coming out. Admirable.

In terms of writing, she is light years ahead of me at her age. Reading her poems made me want to write something before I fall asleep. Here goes.

Tadpole

Before you sprout your hind legs
your kicking legs
that will make you jump higher
and faster and farther
you are already ahead of me
because you dove in the water
not knowing why
or how it can drown you
the way I know why
and how it can drown me

and I will reach out
and hold you
and help you stay above water
until your kicking legs grow
until you let go of me
and surpass me

but not until then, I won’t let go
you kick, keep kicking
I won’t let go
I won’t let go.