I haven’t known
This room long
Five, almost six
Years now
Snapshots on display
Some celebrating
Recent events
Others remembering
Family history
Trinkets on display
Some simply for
Decoration
Others holding
Precious memories-
Today, the room is quiet
No shared laughter or tears
And yet, they are here
I can hear them
I can feel them
And my heart tells me
There is room
For so much more
Red clay roots
Must run deep
I can’t think of
Any other reason
For your vibrancy
A fiery reddish orange
Creating community
Wherever you grow-
In some instances
Grouped together
In small bouquets
To mark celebrations
Or remembrances
Most of the time
Woven amongst
Blades of green grass
A colorful lace carpet-
Unafraid to share
Your birthplace
A variety of colors
Dances with you
On the breeze-
Pale pinks
Lovely lilacs
Sunwashed yellows-
Welcomed as part
Of your family-
Imagine I was a bird–
Gliding overhead
Following painted maps
A witness to your beauty
A witness to the power
Of shared roots across
Uncommon ground
How often
in our curious
attempts
to understand
the innermost
workings
of the brain
do we forget
the soul standing
in front of us?
Differences
labeled
as deficits
listed in order
of our perceived
preferences-
Yes, good comes
from understanding
but danger arises
when discoveries
serve only to
categorize
without helping us
understand we each
hold a purpose-
Oh, that we
could grasp
our differences
thru the lens
of our sameness
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!
Thirst quenched
With a cup
Of cool water
Hunger eased
With a tasty
Morsel of food
Fears calmed
Within the warmth
Of safe shelter
Hands in
Desperation
Seeking
To survive
Hands in
Kindness
Seeking
To share
Hand to hand
Heart to heart
Opening
Doorways
Fostering
Pathways
Linking living souls
The most recent episode of the podcast, Revisionist History, is powerful. It really made me think about the space between talking and taking action. Tugged at my heart. Glad my daughter recommended it. Take a listen. ❤️
https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/revisionist-history/i-was-a-stranger-and-you-welcomed-me
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Matthew 25:35-36
He bagged groceries most of his life. Found satisfaction in the routine.
It was like a new puzzle with each order. Everything had its place. Heavy cans were double bagged. Bread and eggs are always on top.
The smiles were nice, too. Most people seemed to appreciate the care taken with their chosen items. After all, these were the things intended to provide sustenance, and energy needed to fulfill their specific jobs.
Yes, their jobs may have been seen as more important than bagging groceries. That didn’t matter, not to him. He took pride in those bagged groceries.
Only one thing made him sad. That was the day the owner installed their first self-check lane…
So many
Conflicting
Thoughts
On one side
Shouts of anger
Worry and fear
On the other
Celebrations
Claims of victory
Somewhere
In the middle
Feeling
Desperately sad
Yet, believing
There is a way
To bridge
This chasm
Life is precious
Feel it in my bones
But it is also
Devastatingly
Difficult
If I fail to
Acknowledge
The latter
Celebrating
The first
Rings hollow
Solutions
Only arrive
Covered
In layers upon
Layers of love
So deep, one voice
Can neither explain
Nor take credit
For the outcome
Let love and kindness be the motivation behind all that you do. I Corinthians 16:14
My intention is not to simplify our current state of affairs, only to take a breath. 💔
Schools are failing
Some would like
You to believe
Wisdom says
Otherwise
One only
Needs
To look
To listen
Hundreds of lives
Working together
In community
Not simply teachers
Teaching students
But people, both
Young and old
Connecting on
Common ground
One that seeks
To meet needs
Heal wounds
Tell stories
Solve problems-
So, what are schools?
They are not failures
But holders of the future-
Take a minute
To stop
To look
To listen
Not at the ones
Talking about
Schools
But the ones
Walking inside
Every
Single
Day
As a teacher, listening to political rhetoric can quickly become discouraging. Especially when I truly stop and think about all of the stories. And I am only one of many. So, I only hear some of the many.
I watch as students take home extra food. Listen as concerns are shared among staff. Notice when students receive much-needed services. And this is in addition to the love and care received from their teachers.
Each day there are tears of joy and sadness, screams of excitement and frustration. But isn’t that life? Don’t miss the bigger picture because of the voices attempting to drown it out.
The second poem was written for a recent school volunteer celebration. But it seemed fitting for my teacher friends as well. ❤️
Imagine the
Blooming daffodil
Magically captured
In time-lapse
Photography
Instant joy in
Sunshine yellow
If only you could see
The results
Of your work
In this manner-
Nurturing hands
Thoughtful words
Freely planting
Seeds of confidence
Gently watering
Pulling weeds
Re-planting when
Necessary
Always shining
Your light…
So much light
Tending to
Each new stem
Each new bud
Each precious child
With love and patience
As they emerge
At their own pace
Right alongside you
Ready to bloom
Fifth graders keep me on my toes. Some days, they leave me exhausted and a little frustrated. Other days, they leave me smiling and re-evaluating my life.
We have an afterschool program called Changemakers. Students create and present pitches to the community. Ideas to positively impact the future and make their community a better place to live.
One day last week, I received three business cards from fifth-grade boys. The first handed me his card as soon as he entered my room. The second came a little later during class. And the last one as the students was lining up to leave.
Each card read name, email, and Tulsa Changemakers. Any hesitations were erased when I expressed my excitement at receiving their cards.
Wow! Your own business card! This is great! I will keep these in my wallet.
These students will leave our building after this school year. They will find their way into their teen years. And hopefully, they will continue looking for ways to improve their community. I will be listening for those names!
Securing subs is a challenge these days. Cancellations happen, leaving staff to improvise, share responsibilities, etc. Our saying: It is what it is. We got you covered.
That brings me to kindergarten on Friday. I had an extra class. Students in the second class are not usually in my room. I may see them in the halls, but they don’t really know me.
A little girl from the other class started getting upset with a friend. I smiled. Do you want to come to sit by me? She did and within minutes had climbed up in my lap. She began to chat, asking about my earrings, girl talk. And then, as if our roles were reversed.
I am going to ask you a question. Tell me one thing that makes you happy. And one thing that makes you sad.
Hmmm. Of course, I had to answer.
Well, seeing all my kids makes me happy. They are all grown up. But I am going to see them all this evening! Saying goodbye to my mom and dad makes me sad. They live in another state, but I go visit sometimes.
Well, you should just go visit now!
They live about five hours from here.
Oh my! That would take at least three days!
Pretty sure I made a new friend. I know I met a young teacher. ❤️
One song
A song from
College days
Simple melody
Powerful message
Tempted to quote
You the lyrics or
Start singing
Even though
I haven’t heard
It in years-
Somehow it found
A hidden corner in
My memory banks
Locked itself away
Patiently waiting for
A chance at revival-
Today was the day!
Music rolled in
Like a wave-
One voice
Singing in the darkness
All it takes is one voice–
Okay, okay
No more lyrics
Only these words-
My voice matters
And so does yours
Have a listen… 🙂
https://music.apple.com/us/album/one-voice-digitally-remastered-1998/194640131?i=194640481
I wrote this poem during a recent poetry circle event with Ali Grimshaw. ❤ Learn more here: https://flashlightbatteries.blog/
Piano Girl 