Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl4 Comments

Lessons Learned While Hiking

Begin with
Determination
Remembering
As the slope
Increases
Baby steps
Are best
Requiring
Less energy
Rest stops
Are necessary
But never
Long enough
At some point
The destination
Will feel farther
Away than when
You started
But once the end
Is in sight
Relief floods
Body, mind, soul
Celebrating while
Begging for rest
Time to just be
In the place you
Struggled to reach
Grateful, tho once again
Never long enough…

Yesterday, my husband and I cheered on our daughter as she ran her first 5K! Yesterday, our youngest son was in Texas, helping our oldest son and his wife move to a new apartment! Today, I remember how we were all together just two months ago, hiking to Browns Falls in Colorado. Today, I am grateful. ❤️

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl9 Comments

Sharing a previously posted poem today. Taking my own advice…rest. 😊

Time to Rest

Notes
Rests
Sound
Silence
Working
Together
To make music
Pleasing
Not only
To the ears
But also
Body, mind, soul
And yet,
One key
Element
Is often
An afterthought-
Silence
If not
Savored
Disappears
Transposing
Sweet melody
To mere noise
Leaving
No time
To breathe
No time
To sing

Thirty Times Ten

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Thirty extra minutes
If there is such a thing
Ten degrees cooler
There is such a thing
Shade provided
By clouds
A chance
To breathe
Collect
My thoughts
Both were gifts
And gifts are unique
Touchable
Or ethereal
Surprising
Or predictable
And sometimes
When welcomed
Simultaneously
Gratefulness
Is multiplied

Student Teacher

On By Piano girl7 Comments

Tiny hands
Gently curled
On piano keys
Were my hands ever that small?
Sitting tall
At the piano
Feet dangling
Was that ever my experience?
Sweetest voice
Singing along
With each new note
Wonder if I ever did that?
Biggest smile
An excitement
Almost tangible
Now that I remember
Thank you, little one
For filling in those
Missing memories
From my first piano lesson

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl4 Comments

Leaving Calm

They entered
This world
One at time
Their first breath
An indication
Of stories to come
Now they come and go
At various times
For various reasons
Like individual clouds
On a blue-sky day
Offering shade
From the heat
Of the sun
Or raindrops
To water the flowers
And dot the sidewalk
Then there are
Those moments
When they all
Come together
In a storm
Of laughter
That fills the air
And leaves behind
The sweetest calm

Enjoying a weekend with the kids! ❤️

Scenes From School

On By Piano girl7 Comments

There are so many factors currently affecting morale among educators. It is easy to feel weighed down. Challenges are real, as are celebrations. I remind myself often to look for the good. And the funny. Knowing they will help balance the frustrating and the heart-breaking.

Scenes from school are intended to show just a tiny glimpse of the moments that brought a smile. ❤️Hope you enjoy! Think I’ll go take a nap!

Scene 1

First music lesson objectives for kindergarten: Rules help us. Music is a treasure.

During kindergarten last week, I asked if they had rules at home. Several yelled out No! But then there were answers such as-Don’t jump on the furniture! Don’t jump on the bed! Don’t jump off the balcony! And the final answer-Don’t smoke in the house!

Scene 2

First graders were practicing keeping a steady beat. But end-of-the-day restlessness set in. The kiddos and me. One little friend sensed my frustration.

Come on, Mrs. Morris! Let’s find that steady beat in our hearts!

Scene 3

I was greeting fourth-grade students at the door. Good morning! Have a seat around the circle. As one little boy passed by, he said You look beautiful today.

Circle Poems

On By Piano girl2 Comments

Not So Obvious

Where am I?
Sitting here
With my feet
Firmly planted
On the floor
Well, that is
The obvious answer
But what about
Those answers
That won’t come
So easily
Answers that lead
Down a path
Holding only
More questions-
How is it a single detour
On today’s path
Can feel like a failure
Sucking the air from
All the colorful balloons
Filled throughout the day
Rising to the top
Leaving behind
Contented smiles-
If only I could
Erase the sound
Of the needle
Popping the one balloon
Not released with joy-
Maybe tomorrow…

Confident Cloud

This morning
I noticed sunlight
Finding its way
Thru layers
Of clouds-
Some clouds
Seemed to bask
In the light
Almost disappearing
While others remained
Dark and gloomy
Allowing only
A few rays
To lightly lay
Across their gray-
Oh, to be the cloud
Completely open
To the sun’s warmth
Boring a hole
Right thru its center
Confident it is now
Ready to face
Whatever storm
May lie ahead

I continue to be encouraged by and grateful for the writing circle. ❤️ If you are interested, check out https://flashlightbatteries.blog/

On Your Mark

On By Piano girl5 Comments

The more I sleep
The more I dream
Sleep is good
So are dreams
But if my eyes
Remain closed
For too long
And dreams end
With waking
Never to be
Considered again
What purpose did they serve?
They are not fulfilled
By wishing, but by
Opening my eyes
To the world outside
Remembering
Both the sweet
And the restless
Allowing them to
Move my feet
One step
Then another
Embracing action
Accepting rest
Avoiding idleness
Held in a cycle
Of discovery
And learning
Failures and
Successes
Seeing dreams
As the starting mark
While welcoming
The holding of hands
That will, together
Cross the finish line

School started last week. Needless to say, it was a busy week! And I am tired. I was glad to see students again. 😊

I missed reading words and thoughts from my WordPress family last week. Most evenings, my brain had no room left. That, and I could barely keep my eyes open through dinner. 😉 Hoping to play catch up this weekend. Happy Saturday!

Teacher Brain

On By Piano girl5 Comments

I know that face
It’s a year older
But, still, the face
Of a child
The smile
A bit more
Confident
You were one of my favorites that year
Yes
I remember
Kind
Hard-working
Friendly
Artistic
Your face
Why could I not remember your name?
Hours later
And miles away
My mind clears
A name appears
That’s it!
Remembering
Makes me smile

Last night was meet the teacher time at school. Former students often return with their younger siblings to say hello. One stopped by my table. I was so glad to see him. We talked about the previous school year. I asked if he was taking an art class. Yes! He smiled.

Tomorrow is the first day of this school year. There will be so many faces, old and new. And though it may take a while to remember their names, connections will begin with their smiles.