Nelson, Marilyn. 2002. Carver,
a Life in Poems. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0439443393
Marilyn Nelson has written this unique biography of George
Washington Carver in 59 poems (predominantly free verse) and received a Newbery Honor Award as well as the Coretta Scott King Award. In her writing she reveals the gentle yet
powerful man who against the odds of his time which limited opportunity, made
lasting contributions to the scientific world gaining the respect and
admiration of greats such as Albert Einstein.
Her verses tell not only the physical facts of his being orphaned
as an infant and raised by the childless white couple, Moses and Susan Carver,
his education, struggles, and scientific contributions, but also his spiritual
convictions that help us see him as a human being. After the dedication page, Nelson includes 5
quotes: one from Albert Einstein, one from Leo Tolstoy, and three from
Carver. Two of Carver’s
quotes particularly impressed me:
1.
"I thoroughly understand that there are
scientists to whom the world is merely the result of chemical forces or
material electrons. I do not belong to
this class."
2.
"A
personal relationship with the Great Creator of all things is the only
foundation for the abundant life. The
farther we get away from self, the greater life will be."
I find his bold conviction juxtaposed with his humility to be very
inspirational.
Again, on page 75, in the poem titled Professor
Carver's Bible Class, Nelson writes in Shakespearean sonnet
form expressing the thoughts of one of
Carver's students whose idea of God was transformed from Master to Creator under
Carver' tutelage. In lines 9-14:
He taught us that our
Creator lives within,
yearning to speak to us
through silent prayer;
that all of nature, if
we'll just tune in,
is a vast broadcasting
system; that the air
carries a current we can
plug into:
Your Creator, he said, is
itching to contact you!
In the next poem entitled Goliath, we see emotional torment following a
brutal mutilation and lynching. His students question "Where is God now?
What does He want from us?" This
poem is written in rhyming couplets of three stanzas with six lines each. The final stanza is six lines of free verse
written as a quote from Carver in reply to his students:
We kill Goliath by going
about
the business of the
universal good
which our creator wills,
obediently
yielding to Him the
opportunity
to work wonders through us
for all of His children.
That's all. Read 1 Samuel
17:47.
Of course, ending with a scripture reference left a looming
question only answered by looking up that scripture from the Biblical story of
David and Goliath. In that passage,
David addresses Goliath and his Philistine army, the last words Goliath was to
hear, "All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear
that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you
into our hands."
The subject matter and vocabulary of most of these poems would
make it more appropriate for older students.
The Goliath poem could be a launching pad to a meaningful discussion of
the Goliaths that individuals face today and perhaps the unorthodox ways we can
approach them. Carver’s
life is often a favorite during Black History Month but could easily be
included in studies of famous scientists or a food or farming unit any time of
the year.
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