emotion locomotion

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I've been thinking ... and you know what? It hurts to think this hard. I mean it.  I have been going back and forth and back and forth; should I or shouldn't I, should I or shouldn't I? I have been caught in emotion locomotion. The only thing fun about it is actually saying the syllables out loud; they just roll off of your tongue - emotion locomotion. I know at least 75% of you just said it out loud or at least in your head. I am going to bet my salary (which is easy, because I no longer earn one) that at least 99%  of you have experienced it in recent days. 

Let me define emotion locomotion since the definition can only be found within my own personal dictionary, made up of entirely fabricated yet plausible definitions. Emotion locomotion is when one or more emotions propel themselves through the crevices of your gray matter gaining momentum as they travel. This is not to be confused with emotion circumlocution locomotion which is when those very same emotions only travel in perfect circles. 

Emotion locomotion

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Emotion circumlocution locomotion

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My thoughts began their perilous journey after I completed my latest children's video poem.  I began second guessing the impact the video would have on my readers fearing some might then turn on me in discontent.  I blame the possibility on COVID19.  It has made us all half, if not completely crazed. My train of thoughts listed  back and forth violently as I predicted the thoughts of my readers and intertwined them with my own: What's true, what is fake news? How do we explain this to children? Who do I get my news from, CNN, Fox or Facebook? I am worried about our children.  Do I stand with the Trumpanater or am I a Never-Trumper? Is she trying to indoctrinate my children?????!!!!!!

It was that last contemplation that had my train conductor blowing his whistle, compelling my emotion locomotion  into high speed.  You see, my children's stop motion video's plot is all about a plague in the times of kings and queens, more specifically, how the kingdom survives. I think you all know where this is going. In short, it is about face masks. Since I write poetry specifically for children, I wrote a Haiku story and then made it into a video poem. It was only afterwards that my thoughts flew off of the rails. What if people think I am writing a political piece, a statement of condemnation of those not wearing masks? What if people think I am stepping on their personal freedoms by even suggesting that masks "saved a nation". What if people think I hate our democracy and don't love my country? What if I offend 40% (give or take) of my readers??????

 !These thoughts must STOP!

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I think I can, I think I can, I think I can stop these thoughts!

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Finally, I screeched my emotion locomotion to a halt. I wrote my Haiku story for a reason.  Much of the nation (and the world for that matter) is trying to acclimate to a new normal and that normal includes wearing masks in certain situations.  Whether or not we agree with the mandates/strong suggestions or practice is beside the point.  My worry is that children are caught in their own Thomas the Train emotion locomotion.  If a simple video poem can help stop or slow down their runaway train, then I pray the gamble is worth the risk of stirring up some adult emotion locomotion! However,  If you think I might, then I am going to try to redirect your locomotion. Watch the video poem first; come at it with the mindset of a child who is trying to process what they are seeing in this new and strange COVID world.  If you see fit, be a Sir Topem Hat, the Thomas the Train conductor, and direct yourselves to "A Peek into Poetry" so that you and your child might enjoy the video, along with the ensuing activities.

,And please, remember that: the content of the following video is not meant to  reflect the opinions of its author. I will post the video poem below for your preview and will also post it on the "A Peek into Poetry" page.  There, it will be in the typical format used on that page and will include children's activities and guided questions to promote introspection and quality family conversation. Enjoy this apolitical video poem written for the benefit of our  children and their emotion locomotion. 

My goal for our childrens' emotion locomotion...

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THE QUEEN SAVES THE DAY!

Video and activities for families found on "A Peek into Poetry" page