Found poem from “My Daughter Asleep” by David Whyte.
Found poem from Nick Flynn’”The Book of Ash.”
Big thanks to Annmarie for passing along Mary Oliver’s essay collection Upstream. I’m loving it.
Then today I read Mary Oliver’s essay “My Friend Walt Whitman” and when I got to the final paragraph, something opened up. I picked up my David Whyte collection and read “Cuzco.” The light shined down on the pages and I knew that I had been seeking something when in essence, I needed to let the words find me.
I have combined the final paragraph of the essay and parts of David’s poem into a double found poem. The bold parts are David’s words, the italicized Mary’s.
(Found poem from Rumi’s “Music is my Zikr”— Zikr being a Persian word meaning spiritual remembrance.)
In my classroom I have a poster that looks like an eye chart with the Emerson quote “When it’s dark enough, you can see the stars.”
Today I read a poem called “Dark Days” by Nikita Gill. It resonated because I feel like I’m coming out of some darkness regarding my classroom life. A shift has occurred…a much needed shift.
I created this found poem from Gill’s.
I look at the stars
Patchwork of time
Single burst of starlight
Beautiful piece of art
A better version of me
They are helping me see
#66Challenge
Today I pulled out and oldie but goodie—lines from Shakespeare’s plays and lyrics from hip hop songs. This is something from the Folger Shakespeare Library, and was squirreled away in a free kit I got from them many years ago. Our school is currently participating in One Book, One School, and the text this year is Shakespeare’s Secret, so it gives us opportunities to do some Shakespeare-related activities.
The process works like this: learners get a stack of strips with the lines. They randomly choose 10 to make a found poem. When done, they use the leftovers to form more purposeful poems.
Here is a random:
(Take note: the bold lines are Shakespeare, the regular text strips are from hip hop songs.)
Here are a few more created “on purpose” today:
The kids were surprised at how these random lines could actually “make sense.” Perhaps we took a short step to helping them not be afraid of the language of Shakespeare. Even if that did not happen, this tactile activity had them smiling!
A found poem from my students responses to our short study of Misty Copeland.
I found it interesting that...
She started when she was 13 in her school gym
It took her only 3 months to get on her toes: it takes most ballerinas 3 years
The way they judged her for how she dressed and how her body looked
Her teacher knew the only thing that would get her out of the motel was dancing
She used the motel railing where she lived as a ballet barre
She had two teachers that helped her
She wanted to seek independence from her mother so she could dance
She was able to dance again when doctors said she wouldn't
She is the first African-American principal dancer for the American Ballet Company
She doubted herself but still made it to the top--that is inspiring.
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| From Kara Vereen |
#108Weeks
December 12-18, 2021
Crystal Bowl Meditation removed all the knots in my neck and shoulders.
On Monday, I had a hard time feeling any love or joy at work because I had gotten all wrapped up in the numbers.
I’ve decided I can’t be a Read 180 fascist.
Found a way to lift a student’s spirits and belief in herself, and that felt good.
Something shifted and I’m back in teacher mode. Wasn’t sure when or if that would ever happen.
On Friday I discovered how vulnerable I am, and it sent me reeling for hours. Fortunately it took place in a safe space, and I’m so grateful for wonderful friends.
If nothing else, I needed this week for everything to settle in, and to see once again how resilient I am.
#108Weeks
October 31-November 6, 2021
The only thing I know is that I don't know
Obstacles will come like waves -- keep coming and coming -- you must learn to surf with unshakeable peace
The most beautiful form of courage is to be happy (Jeanne Lohmann)
Don't quit before the miracle
Beauty is the target -- spread joy or be destroyed
All my young readers are created in God's image, too. Little Godlings
I cast my faith forward as a light on my path
#108Weeks
September 5-11, 2021
I had an epiphany about how I spend my time, which sent everything into a better motion.
I haven't been living my creative life.
Writers write. I wrote.
I voice the universe in an original way.
At school, I'm keeping learning and real reading in the forefront.
Getting prepared for my first Creative Writing Club meeting coming up!
I bring my brave face and loving heart each day, and I move forward.
#108Weeks
May 23-29, 2021
Important notes about this post: This week I added a bit of a theme and stuck with it. After all I went through I feel like I should have a terrycloth robe with my name embroidered on the back. It was tough, and I'm not sure the next 13 days with kids will be any better. It's exhausting for everyone to have a year like this. This post marks my halfway point with with this project. I am grateful to be keeping this documentation of events, even the painful ones.
On Sunday I had a nice walk with Amy at Lakes Park, then to Fancy's for Chicken and Waffles. YUM.
In order to survive, I'm teaching a novel to 5th period called The Contender, about a 16-year-old high school drop-out training to be a boxer. Most kids are really into it. It's a perfect story for these guys.
Tuesday was a chill day. The calm before the storm.
JAB--I have to sit in another teacher's classroom with 6th graders for hours while the 7th and 8th graders test. Returning to my room, I spilled a large mug of water, nearly wiping out my cellphone. Also lost a pair of good reading glasses in transit. Then rushed through 17-minute period (6 classes) the rest of the day. In that short time I managed to write 2 referrals in 5th period.
CROSS--Walking quickly at school I turn a corner and my right foot slides and go down on my left knee, shocking me. No indication the floor had just been mopped. I was traumatized for several hours, but appear to be okay. Falling at any age is tough. At 65, it is scary as hell.
HOOK--Had to write two more referrals* during 5th period. One girl was screaming at a boy during a class discussion. Is there no end to this madness?
UPPERCUT --Anxiety has built up in my chest. Even after getting a massage, I didn't sleep well and had a frustrating dream. Thank God for a 3-day-weekend. I need to recover, because I'm back in the ring on Tuesday.
*I have only written 3 other referrals all year. This week I wrote FOUR.
#108weeks
May 9-15, 2021
Facing a week of schedule interruption with testing and several other annoyances, I decided to focus on self-care. Here is the result.
Sunday: Took a walk with Kara at Lakes Park
Monday: New clothes ready to wear this week: cute tops and colorful dresses
Tuesday: Giving kids space to be themselves helps me be calm
Wednesday: Managed an escape from my classroom during lunchtime, and drove to Publix to get some sushi, enjoying the blue sky and white puffy clouds and breathing deeper
Thursday: Finally returned to my cushion for five minute daily meditation, and my mind is already in better order
Friday: Early morning neighborhood walk on a breezy, cool day
Saturday: Playing Neil Young music at my lesson, getting together with writing group, and finishing an excellent book makes for a perfect day
#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 will have my weekends open from now on.
It's Saturday. All grading is done and I'm chillin'.
Today I decided to try something from Week 3 of The Listening Path. Julia suggests going somewhere you don't usually go, and listen to the sounds.
I haven't gone to Lakes Park as much as I'd like, and was planning to go there, so decided to just use that as my location. When I was approaching, though, I remembered it was Farm Market Day. I usually go to the park early on, before a lot of people get there. Well, it turns out there are a gazillion people who go early before the market opens and walk around the lake -- my destination today. I was met with mobs of people, walking and on bikes and with strollers, as they were mostly finishing their walks so they could hit the stands.
I took note of the sounds and here is my list:
Lots of birds
Lots of people
A woman talking to her friends about Susan B. Anthony
A lot of Good Morning exchanges
Traffic on Gladiolus
There's a snake on the path
It's a pretty one
Two elder gentlemen admiring the colors on a Green Heron
Carpenters running their drills repairing parts of the bridge
More birds
A child in a stroller calling a moorhen duckie
Mom confirming, Yes, duckie
Vendor hawking their fresh goodies
Food truck generators humming
Hi to my coworker Lisa who I meet on the path
Workers discussing repairs on the water park
Children laughing & pushing each other to be first at the vending machines
Back to my car
The engine roars
Alabama is singing "Southern Star"
Show me the way to go home
#108Weeks
January 17-23, 2021
Feeling creative
Being productive
Hammering details
Paying attention
Analyzing possibilities
Awaiting vaccine
Celebrating success.
#108 Weeks
December 5-12, 2020
Make amends before it's too late.
10 more days, then a nice long break.
Had 7 people at the Creative Writing Club and lots of good poems shared.
More kids being quarantined every day.
For some reason the heat never shuts off in my classroom, making me very grumpy!
Reminded again that I always have everything I need in any given moment.
#108Weeks
November 15-21, 2020
COVID is rising again as we knew it would, and extra caution is needed. With that in mind, Jim and I decided to forego having dinner out for Thanksgiving.
Saw a meme yesterday: You're not stuck at home. You're safe at home.
Gratitude boomerangs back -- I got a sweet appreciative email from one of my Assistant Principals.
I'm feeling pretty easygoing at work.
I need to believe our democracy will hold even as corruption seeps through.
I came home Friday and collapsed. Thank God for a break!
#108Weeks
November 8 - 14, 2020
Surprise home from school day. Storm has been raging all night.
This election stuff is scary and unproductive and putting us all at risk.
It is such a strange week!
Results are final: 306-232
#108Weeks
October 18-24, 2020
Been focusing on the moment as I find myself thinking ahead and sometimes worry comes across me about imagined ills in the future and ya know, that doesn't help anyone.
Had a crazy dream there was an early pizza party at work and I arrived late. I mean...it was pizza before 9 a.m. The place was rockin'.
I ordered another Regina Brett book because I need uplifting stories. The Psalms aren't doing it!
I had a relaxing planning period -- first one all year.
I'm glad I have the weekend to chill.
So many ideas coming my way!
For a while I have been finding it difficult to get myself to this blog. I will write entire things out in my journal that I think I want ...
