Morning fog
A welcomed
Sight
Matched
My fuzzy
Thoughts
Squinting
Into the mist
My eyes
Spotted
Tiny deer
Grazing
In a field
Unphased
Maybe
They felt
Protected
By this
Temporary
Blanket
Knowing from
Experience
Sunlight
Would
Eventually
Burn away
The haze
Yesterday
My steps
Were heavy
Even the ones
Taking me
Where
I wanted
To go
Precious feet
Walked beside
In the sunlight
Of a clear
Fall day
Splashes
Of color
Painting
Our paths
Until the light
Slipped away
And heaviness
Completely
Draped
Demanding
To be named
Before sleep
Could come-
Now morning,
Fragments
Remain-
But I smile
At the beautiful
Pink sunrise
I have not written about depression lately. But honesty is my goal. And sometimes, admitting how I feel is the first step to feeling better. I love the fall colors and cooler temps. But when sunsets come earlier and cloudy days are multiplied, struggle sets in.
I am thankful for friends and family who understand and remind me it is ok.
Walking
Hand in hand
First day
To last
One often
Seen as
Enemy
Of the other
Giver vs. taker-
Picture them
Working
Together
One aiding
The body
Along its path
The other
Waiting
To embrace
Spirit, once
The temporary
Gives out
Death
A part of
Life
Not determiner
Of its end-
This journey
Shares its
Insight-
Those
Left walking
Walk with broken hearts
Thinking of all those grieving the loss of someone close.
There’s
A span
Of time
Between
Awake and
Asleep
Where hazy
Melodies
Slow to
A gentle
Tempo
I wonder
How many
Measures
This space
Is capable
Of holding?
Trying to
Keep count
I am sadly
Awakened
Sleep evading
Allowing
The lullaby
To wash over
I am sweetly
Carried
To slumber
Melody
Forgotten
A mystery
Left for
Dreaming
Time change?
How is that
Possible?
An enigma
At best
Lose an hour
Gain an hour
Tomorrow
Arrives the same
Sleep comes
No faster
Rest feels
No sweeter
At least not
From this
Sleepyhead
…until
My morning
Drive to work
Was no longer
Shrouded
In darkness
Instead,
A pretty
Pink sunrise
The word of the day, or the week, is sleep. It feels like I cannot get enough. It’s funny how gaining an extra hour makes me feel so tired. 😉
Parading around
In costumes
Recognizable
Masks
Distracting me
From the struggle
Taking root
In my soul
Feelings
Can be sneaky
That way
Tricksters thriving
On energy
Expended in a
Tug of War
That leaves
Me trying
To pull the rope
From both ends
There will never
Be a winner
Only the need
To let go
Of the rope
Even if
It means
Falling
In the mud
I often talk about poetry being therapeutic. This poem is a perfect example. It did not provide answers to the questions on my mind. However, writing the words down provided some tension relief. It also reminded me I don’t have to have all the answers right at this moment. Maybe you can relate. ☺️
Opening doors
Requires
Asking questions
Whether seeking
Knowledge
Creativity
Relationships-
Some we ask
Almost every day
How are you?
What’s wrong?
What do you think?
How does that work?
Listening
For answers
Is the key
I pride myself
On being
A good listener
Discovering that
Some questions
No matter
How many times
I ask them
Have no answers-
My youngest son
Turns twenty-one
Tomorrow-
Where has the time gone?
Happy Birthday, Ryan! ❤️
Fifth-grade girl: Mrs. Morris, I am going to bring you some poems I wrote. They are about love.
Me: (Reading her poems.) She’s right. Love is unpredictable. 😉
Fourth-grade girl walking to the library to return her book. I notice that the book she is holding is my book.
She smiled. “It’s a good book, Mrs. Morris.”
We snapped a cute picture. She made my day!
Kindergarten student: Mrs. Morris, we are coming to see you tomorrow! You better be prepared!
Students drew pictures while listening to a Mozart piano concerto. Here are a few of my favorites from fifth grade. ❤️
Teaching is hard work. This week had its challenges. But I am choosing to focus on the ones that made me smile.
Approaching
Resonance
Can’t quite
Hear it
With
My ears
But I feel it
In my bones
A slight ache
Hint of what
Approaches
Do I stop
Hibernate
Until it passes?
Or attempt
To outrun?
Perhaps
I will
Simply
Slip-on
My favorite
Sweater
Continue
Placing
One foot
In front of
The other
Unafraid
Believing
When winter
Eventually
Catches up-
I’ll be ready
That you are
Safe
Well-fed
Healthy
Claim
Your own
Identity
With
Confidence
Have friends
Are a friend
But most
Of all
That you are
Loved
Just the way
You are
Our friend, Marie, visited this weekend. It is always good to see her. She has a hold on my heart. Continues to grow and mature. And though some level of support may always be needed, she has come so far.
Next year she will turn eighteen, graduate from high school. Today even mentioned getting a job.
She has come so far…after going through so much. Things I wish could be erased-no, had never happened.
I am thankful she lives in a loving home. She will remain there even after her birthday. And while we may not be her family, we will continue to be her people.
Face to Face with Child Abuse: Personal Reflections of a Teacher
Heaviness
Lingers
In the quiet
Struggles
Of others
On this cold
Fall morning
Though
Not mine
Fragments
Of their pain
Filter thru
My thoughts
The sky
Is clear
And blue
From my
Vantage
While clouds
Of grief and
Sadness fill
Surrounding
Skies
Needing
To release
Waiting for
Assurance
That it is ok
For the rain
To fall
Even on
The clearest
Of days
Piano Girl 