Mr. Rilla: a Poem and an Interview

Lily Brooks '12

Patience My Dear

‘Patience my dear, let the flour settle.’
as she plucked at onions like flower petals.

High enough, barely, to reach the stove
I heeded her word, swirling a slurred
mix of powder and water until my hand
felt stiff as a wooden spoon.

     The kettle sat black on the spiral stove.

In her dinner haste, she would often touch her nose
gathering thought, and smear a white dot
From the stirring pot that lingered long after dinner,
Causing my brother to grin and wail.

One evening the kettle-whistle startled her so,
she tipped a stream from the scalding spout
That whistled and steamed down my stirring arm.

She sat at the doctor’s side
peeling dead skin from my prickling burn,
her apron still tied and her nose still white.

    Odd the worth of a single touch—

A smooth fingertip down a smoldered arm.
Skin that never wrinkled like mine.

                Josh Rilla

His skills on the tennis court combined with his love for teaching and his divine interest in poet Slyvia Plath make Mr. Rilla a well-rounded Upper School English teacher. I recently sat with him and he shared with me his own creative definition of poetry, several poems from his most admired poet, Sylvia Plath, and one of his own pieces based a touching childhood memory.

Brooksie: What was your inspiration/prompt for this poem?
Mr. Rilla: I wrote this poem on my own without a prompt.
B: Who is the protagonist for this poem?
R: My Mother and myself.

B: How did you decide on the subject?
R: This piece was based on reality, actually from a memory when I was three years old.
In my home there was a faulty old stove in the kitchen. You had to be careful of water spilling. This particular day water did spill and it burned my entire arm. I ended up having to go to the hospital.

B: What type of poetry do you like the most?
R: In past years, I have been drawn to forum, most commonly in Shakespearean works. Then, I started to become interested more in works of Robert Frost. I payed attention to the rhythm scheme and meter.


B: Who is your favorite poet?
R: Without question, Sylvia Plath

B: How did you get interested in poetry?
R: From a very young age. My mother was a painter so my house was always filed with paints and other kids of artwork. I would say that my first experience with poetry was when I was in fifth grade; I had written my first poem and was so excited to show my parents. Long story short, my parents were very shocked and scared to find out that my poem was written about a serial killer!

B: What do you consider poetry?
R: Wow, that’s a loaded question! It requires an extensive answer, but to me poetry is summed up in a quote by Emily Dickinson, “If I read a book and it makes my body so cold no fire can ever warm me, that is poetry.” For me it has always been the easiest form of expression in order to get across what I am trying to say in a specific moment. I also think it is important to understand that shorter poetry can hit home more than longer poetry in some cases, because every word is considered and every line is needed. In all, I guess you could use the expression poetry is “anything that can cut to the quick”.

If you would like to read more of Mr. Rilla’s poetry, make sure to pick up a copy of the Fall Heliconian in the Library today!