Tag: summer

Dear Cloud

On By Piano girl5 Comments

Stop teasing
Come closer
I see you
Spending
All day
Hanging out
On the perimeter
Yes, I know
It offers the most
Sought after views
Of the blue skies
The location
Where you look
Your brightest-
But you cast
A broad shadow
Perfect for days
Like today
Couldn’t you
Float on over
And provide
A spot of shade
Not even asking
For a drop of rain
Maybe a breeze
Thirty minutes tops
That’s all I’m asking…

After multiple days of one-hundred-degree temperatures, trying to lighten the mood. I am holding out hope for a few cooler days this coming weekend. There is even a slight chance of rain. Fingers crossed!

Super Kids

On By Piano girl4 Comments

Fresh air
Sunshine
Running
Jumping
Spinning
Friends
Playing
Getting ready
For summer-
Next year
Some will return
Some will move up
Some will move away
But today is not about that!
There will be
Scrapes and tears
Fusses and squabbles
Maybe even
A few rocks
Thrown
Yet, at the end of the day
What will they remember?
Playing with
Their friends
Being silly with
Their teachers
And, of course
Eating popsicles-
Because
Super Kids Day
Is all about super kids

Perfect day!
Love this sweet girl!
One of my favorites…shhh 😉
Popsicle crew!

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl7 Comments

Surprise!

Months on the calendar
Always the same
Each day moving
At the same speed
No single one
Able to outrun
Another
Logic says it’s so
So why is it
All of me
From head
To heart
To toes
Feels surprised
When certain
Times arrive?
In the heat
Of summer
It seemed
October
Would never
Show its face
Yet here it is
Teasing us
With hints of
Cool breezes
And hopes for
Beautiful colors
I’m sure to be
Just as surprised
When it says goodbye

In the Rain

On By Piano girl6 Comments

Stood outside
In the rain
Today
Don’t do that
Often enough
Drops dampened
My dress
Frizzed
My hair
Cooled
My skin
The beginning
Farewell
Of Summer
Blurring with
The beginning
Hello
Of Fall
Not that
I would
Recommend
Standing
In the rain
Every day
Only every
Now and then
To wash away
What needs
Washing away

Rain began to fall right as school ended today. This made for a damp dismissal. I had a few moments of irritation but then thought of this common phrase; a little rain never hurt anyone.

It certainly did not hurt me today. And it reminded me how quickly the seasons pass.

Summer’s End

On By Piano girl7 Comments

Sweltering heat
Suffocated
The entire
Afternoon
One step
Outside
And I was
Immobile
In the still
Stifling air
Surely, I
Would not
Wish away
A summer day-
Quite
The change
From early
This morning
When, after
One look
At the calendar
I realized
Summer was
Slipping away
And began
Wishing
It would last
Just
A little
Longer-
Now I wonder
How many days
Will pass before
A cool breeze
Blows the wisps
Of loose hair
In my messy
Ponytail

Summer Morning Surprises

On By Piano girl3 Comments

Cool summer morning
Pleasant surprise
Family of birds
Playing happily
In a nearby tree
Begins to circle
The sky in flight
Darting up
Dashing down
Dancing together
Like children
In a game of
Ring around the Rosie
Upon their return
To the safety
Of familiar branches
The welcoming tree
Like a wise grandmother
Rocking on the porch
Shakes with laughter
At their homecoming
Knowing they will not
Live with her forever
Especially
The young ones
For soon, they will
Find their own mates
Build their own nests
Perhaps in
A nearby tree
Perhaps not
For now, she accepts
The importance
Of protecting
While preparing
For the day
They fly away
Hopefully
Another lovely
Pleasant surprise
Cool summer morning

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girlLeave a comment

Summer Night

I can feel it
In my bones
Sense it
Slowly
Approaching
Though still
Far away
Tensions
Being to rise
Along with
The growing
Bank of darkness
What to do?
Not a matter
Of if but when
It will arrive
Do I make
Preparations
For something
Over which
I have no control
Or do I sit still
Breathing
Watching
Praying
Welcoming
With open arms
Lessons sure
To be left behind
Once the storm passes

Spaces

On By Piano girl1 Comment

Certain spaces
In this life
Feel empty
Certain spaces
In this life
Look dark
Even though
They are not-
Not completely-
Each of us
Fills the moments
Of our days
Each of us
Fills the span
Of our years
No matter
The length
Of said spaces
Even when
We are alone
Light remains-
Your light
May seem faint
For a time…wait
Allow me
To see it
And together
Our days
Will be brighter
Our years
Fulfilled

Yesterday was the last day of school. The last day of school for a tough year. Teaching and attending during a pandemic created challenges we continue to process.

Certain times of the year felt dark, frustrating. But as time went on, stresses seemed to lift a little at a time. We accepted our new normal and continued to do what we do.

As school ended yesterday, I was not prepared for the tears from students. Uncontrollable crying over the idea of leaving their current teachers.

Teacher friends, don’t ever doubt the influence of your light in the classroom. Even while dealing with our own concerns and fears, students saw lighthouses in the storm.

Now it is time to rest. Time to reflect. Time to stoke the remaining embers and prepare to see those faces smiling back at us in August!

Happy Summer! ❤

Unfinished

On By Piano girl2 Comments

Surely by now
I should be
Finished growing
I’m certainly tired
And somehow, tired
Leads right to selfish
Question after question
How much longer?
When can I do
Whatever
I want to do?
Seeing the words
On paper
Saying them
Out loud
Makes me want
To erase them
Suck them back in
And yet, they remain
Telling me I still
Have lots to learn
And in turn
Lots to teach-
I saw it in their faces today
Thru smiles and frowns
Unfinished lessons
Unfinished me

This is the point in the school year where I find myself thinking, “Do I have the energy to do this another year?” I am tired and ready for summer. But interactions with students this week confirmed that I am not yet finished. And a time of rest will provide the energy needed to start another school year.

Today I had an arm wrestling challenge with four third-grade boys. Can you say end of the school year? One more week…

The Old Oak

On By Piano girl3 Comments

A wooden backboard
Metal rim, no net
Nailed to an oak tree
The ground below
Covered with rocks
An uneven court
To be sure
Shaded by branches
And green leaves
The perfect spot
For a friendly
Game of H-O-R-S-E
Maybe one on one
Or three on three
Aunts, Uncles, Cousins
Lots of laughter
A few skinned
Elbows and knees-
Players are long gone
The old oak remains
Holding in its rings
The memories of
Summer days and
Basketball games
Played under its
Watchful care

I am, admittedly, not a huge sports fan. Growing up, I was never part of an official sports team. My thing was music.

I do enjoy watching the occasional college football game and March Madness basketball. Especially when the Arkansas Razorbacks are competing. Growing up in Arkansas meant being a Razorback fan.

I watched games with my family. Listened to my Dad and Uncles yelling at the TV. Learned how to “call the hogs.” Then went outside to shoot hoops under the tree on our gravel court.

I attended the University of Arkansas for graduate school. Met my husband, who was a tuba player in the Razorback Band. Watched our oldest son follow in his footsteps, continuing that Razorback Band tradition.

So, tonight I will be cheering on those Razorbacks as they play ORU in the NCAA sweet 16 games. It is sure to be exciting! And just hearing those hog calls is sure to bring back lots of fun memories. Go Hogs!