Multiplying

 Inspired by this line from Lawrence Ferlinghetti:  You and me could really exist.

We all could exist better

if our children were cared for

We all could exist better

if we keep our egos aside

We all could exist better

if we read more poetry

We all could exist better

if we stopped dividing

and started

adding

and doing some

multiplying

of kindness

     peace and

             love.

Small Shifts (7 Lines/7Days #49)

 #108Weeks

 

April 18-24, 2021

 

Inspired by Celie in The Color Purple, I wrote a long letter to God and put it in my God Jar. I asked for help in keeping my grading manageable, and to help me develop better routines. The ones I have are not sustainable. I cannot continue to give away my weekends to all of this.

Refuse to struggle

I find myself thinking about retirement. Even looked at the numbers.

Writing test day was just boredom and babysitting.

I came home from work Wednesday feeling incredible because I set the parameters of the class again, started reading conferences, and had my 6th graders handwrite their video responses. 

It was refreshing and uplifting.

I will have my weekends open from now on.

It's Saturday. All grading is done and I'm chillin'.
 

A Dip in the Road (7 Lines/7 Days #48)

 

It's amazing how going out for dinner and a concert makes me feel like a different person -- yet so much the same.

Expect the unexpected.

I missed so many things being off work, I'm having trouble keeping up.

There are things to work on with the kids and time is running out. Happens every year.

Taking kids out to recess can be exhausting.

Friday was rough. Raspberry sherbet and a massage saved me.

The Universe funds me with strength.

Tri-Cubes

 I have learned of a poem structure called Tri-Cubes: 3 syllables per line, 3 lines per stanza, 3 stanzas per poem.  Today in our Write Around the Corner meeting, I wrote a couple, so decided to document here.

The first is prompted by this video:

 

the red cliffs

ocean waves

forests green

the ice caps

the valleys 

the mountains

all needed

all secure 

all divine

The second Tri-Cube was after a meditation on settings mentioned in this poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti: battlefield and church

https://poetriamcr.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/lawrence-ferlinghetti-i-have-not-lain/

 

a victory

or a loss

is certain

 

terror reigns

death appears

songs are sung

 

celebrate!

love yourself

don't forget

Standing on Solid Ground (7 Lines/7 Days #47)

 #108Weeks

 

April 4-10, 2021

 

 

I had a dream I was driving down an extremely steep road and was terrified, but made it safely to the bottom and solid ground. Upon waking, I could see it was a metaphor for this school year.

The last 2 mornings in nature were magically perfect. So many birds! There are angels all around us.

I kept reminding myself to say in the moment and it came in handy when Jim's eye blew up again and we was in horrible pain.

I just have to take things as they come.

The Universe gifts me with courage.

It was announced Home Connect will be gone next year. I celebrated by making a list of all the teaching techniques I can use when I don't have to worry about including kids on Zoom. HOO-RAY!!!

68 more days until the last day of school.

Messages (7 Lines/7 Days #46)

 #108Weeks

 

March 28-April 3, 2021

 

 

 

Those who love me come to my side.

My inner voice spoke: Don't do one more thing. You're killing yourself.

Love what you love.

I am a writer: this is not a revelation, but a confirmation.

 I'm giving myself too much work. I need a release valve.

I am a magnet for good.

I woke at 4 a.m. today and listened to the silence.

 

Italicized lines from Julia Cameron