So Much Promise (the final poems!)

DEPTH

Don't underestimate him

Ever. Colin is a deep

Purveyor of knowledge,

Thorough explanation and insights.

He mines the depths for gold.

RETURN

Revenue of knowledge

Earned every day, Dominik

Travels back when

Understanding gets lost,

Recovering and responding, his

Natural approach to learning. 

BLINK

Blazing his own trail

Lightning fast decisions

Insisting and innocent

Nico reminds us of a 

Kaleidoscope ever-changing.

ALIVE

Ask and you'll receive

Listen and you'll hear

In Gabe's life, this is the

Vision to live by, the way to

Everything good and secure.

Pay Attention

Rey might go unseen

at times, a river

of focus and quiet, of

respect in the air

around him, and above.

SECRET

She is a whisperer

Ever smiling

Catching the light

Resisting nothing

Ever being Yesenia

Trusting and kind.

CLIMB

Clambering up the academic hill

Like the good student h

Is, Maurice ascends,

Motivated to give his

Best to any challenge. 

LEVEL

Lighthearted and friendly

Enter William, keeper of in-

Visibility, creator of

Extraordinary balance,

Level, calm, and steady.

Fields

Walter is walking

and listening in

silence, his mind the

open field

to find himself at one,

to discover this day.

Mystery Diamond

Who is she, this diamond who

can open herself up to anyone who cares to

guess who she is, this Dya'Mond,

the kind one to all, the one who bears

mysteries, who tells it true.

MOVING

Mark this place for Richard

On track for all his goals,

Varies his patterns little,

Instant inquiry when needed,

No many have to

Give what he has to give,

                                      or gain what he will gain.

READY

Remarkably intelligent

Elects to stay focused

Angled to succeed

Directed and determined

You, Chris, ready for anything.

Golden Treasure

Like so many other young people, Jaxson has a

golden way about him, a buried

treasure of wisdom that

he imparts to us on occasion when he's

willing to take us with him and

travel in that direction

**Inspirations**

"Ode to Dictionaries" by Barbara Hamby

"Pin-Up" by Billy Collins

"Look" by Layli Long Soldier

"Remember" by Joy Harjo 

"Clouds" by Twyla M. Hansen

"But perhaps God needs this longing" by Nelly Sachs

"Piano Lessons" by Billy Collins

"I Know the Truth" by Maria Tsvetaeva

"Working with the Word" by David Whyte

"Ode to the Letter M" by Barbara Hamby

"Fog" by Twyla M. Hansen 

"One Day" by David Whyte

"New Orleans" by Joy Harjo

Wildflowers

FRIEND

Find her where people are

Respecter of all, helpful, kind.

In her way Penelope looks to please

Every day it is a mission.

Nested into the classroom culture

Deep into what needs to be done. 

 Lighted Path

The subtle presence

lights a path to the inner

source of Jasmine, a girl who

is chill and fresh, intelligent, smiling her

secret smile, never wavering.

EDGES

Early on she showed us that she

Doesn't always follow the way.

Genius, really, to lower expectations,

Engineered to keep Jazmin free, to keep the

Sun shining around her, to keep her edge.

TRACK

Testing the limits

Resting on response

All-American Ethan

Confident in movement

Kicking conformity 

STRONG

for Jonathan

Straight talker

Thinker and creator

Respectful presence

One who stays grounded

Neutralizes situations

Golden link in the chain

Dobbin Discovers

It is in the way he approaches everything, the

happiness that begins to form

on Dobbin's face when he discovers a new feeling, it is

worth the price of admission, an eternal

enchanting flow of delight.

Night Sky

She could guide the moon across the sky,

waiting, patient.

She a vast spiral, teeming with stars,

Itzel is a startling amount of light

perfectly clear.

Shaped, yet unseen

above the horizon.

Dance With Her

Let your heart dance

Let your heart sing

Let your heart fly to the wind

By the spirit of her presence

Margo invites us to

dance with her in the light

and sing a chorus to the sun 

OCEAN

Obstacles -- she has none

Creativity -- plenty

Expressive Milana is wide

And free as the sea

Nothing can stop her movement.

RIDDLE

Reverse any expectations

In Cameron, he will forever

Do his own thing, not easy to

Determine just what it will be,

Like a mystery in human form,

Ever confounding the order of things. 

Taylor Trusts

A space between leaving and staying,

approaching herself from here to there,

Taylor fades, falls backward, dreams

a whole world balanced on carved ice,

darkness open to all light.

 HELIUM

He is an original.

Elevated status, floating free

Like a hidden path or

Underground tunnel, Fabricio

Manages escape unscathed.

QUARTZ

Quick thinker, Niah is not to be 

Underestimated. She has the goods!

Always has. Focus and energy in

Reserve, she is a cornerstone

Trusting in the process,

Zoom lens to the center of things.

***Inspirations***

"Summer Garden" by Anna Akhmatova (two)

"The Woman Hanging from the Thirteenth Floor Window" by Joy Harjo 

"Mambo Cadillac" by Barbara Hamby

"Workshop" by Billy Collins

"Seen from Above" by David Whyte

"Waiting for Meteors" by Twyla M. Hansen

"Those Who Do Not Dance" by Gabriela Mistral

"They Ask Why" by Maya Angelou (two)

"White Bear" by Joy Harjo

"Betty Boop's Bebop" by Barbara Hamby

"Ganymede's Dream of Rosalind" by Barbara Hamby

Independent Voices

The Art of Being Hermoine

A girl who can make art,

certain that it is time well spent, her

way of being Hermoine.

In this way she lifts and lays claim.

The message from her is silently consistent:

"World be what it is -- I am here."

BALANCE

Boys will be boys it is said, just

A way to adjust to what boys do,

Like make jokes about each other

All day long -- literally. Jipson

Never stops being his boyish self, yet

Can balance between that and his academics,

Ever walking the edge of middle school acceptance. 

CENTER

Central to Jose's life is

Ever-increasing knowledge and focus,

Never pivoting off the central

Tenets of the classroom: to be

Engaged and participatory, to

Reap the benefits of each lesson.

DIGGING

Does anyone come more alive?

Intrigued by every bit of everything,

Growing his thoughts,

Growing his connections

Into the depths, Rider digs

Never giving up until we all

Grasp his delicious insight.

LOYAL

Lions and lotus flowers are

Outward symbols of loyalty.

You might think they conflict, but

Allow me to introduce you to Jacqueline:

Lion of determination, flower of gentleness. 

Reaching High

Voice -- Allison has it

coming through loud and clear,

through her perfect mind, thinking

her thoughts, expanding outward

like the branches of a tree,

roots down, reaching high. 

HAPPY

High-spirited and cheerful, Crystal is

Animated in a joyful way

Pleased at her progress

Prepared for what's next

Young in age, seasoned in spirit.

SHINE

Soccer and academic star

His beaming smile lighting his path

Interested, focused, all things

New to Miguel, he radiates an

External fire generated from within. 

Persuasive Wind

Emma is all that is whole

in a person, much like a tree,

she is steady and strong, leans

on a rare occasion as needed; in

her way she gives her gifts, the

thoughtful fruit, the persuasive wind.

METEOR

Might be a small matter, but when he

Enters your atmosphere, Jimmy

Tracks like a streak of light

Expressing his unique perspective that

Only he can see, that smile, that

Reason to treasure his presence.

**Inspirations**

"Our Grandmothers" by Maya Angelou

"Canada" by Billy Collins

"Seeking Out Time" by David Whyte

"Along the Oregon Trail" by Twyla M. Hansen

"Preacher, Don't Send Me" by Maya Angelou

"For Alva Benson, And For Those Who Have Learned to Speak" by Joy Harjo

"Ode to Airheads, Hairdos, Trains to and from Paris" by Barbara Hamby

"On Turning Ten" by Billy Collins

"Poem in Praise of the Trinity Harp" by David Whyte

"Grain of Sand" by Twyla M. Hansen

These Boys

STAND

Sure of himself without fail

Taking issue any time he disagrees

Abiding by the rules that hold

Now we know some of this is just played for fun

Dogging us is just what Kyle does.

WATCH

With time ticking like

a clock, Hudson is aware of

the movement of those around him,

catching a second hand in motion,

he is as smooth as a fine gear spinning.

 BUILD

Bet you he can do it in an

unbelievably fast motion,

inside a second, Matt can transform

light and air into art and design.

Doesn't hesitate. Thought-filled. Detailed. 

Pop Quiz

Jojo is the first to help.

He can delight me, confound me;

 it is easy to give him a pass

at times, his bright smile warms your

loving heart, it pops

and makes you feel you aced the quiz 

EQUATOR

Endless wisdom, Nick never

quits trying to balance the scales;

useless to argue with his logic. Take

advantage of his insights and

trust in his astute

observations. Consider it a way to best

respond with respect.

BLADES

Bringing with him sharp insights

Like a narrow leaf of grass sprouting, Nicholas

Alerts me to what I need to know,

Deepening his own knowledge and

Experience along the way,

Stating the not so obvious.

WHIRLING

Wheeling, winding, and whip-smart,

He is of spin, dash, and sprint.

In his mind, Jace sees rapid movement

Rushing into physical activity

Like a spinning top.

In time, he can slow the motion,

Nest into his place, be

Grounded, only to find he has to whirl once more.

* Inspirations *

"Prayer of a Woman in Charge of Berry Picking in Knights Islet" (Kwakiutl)

"Ode to Anglo Saxon, Film Noir, and the Hundred Thousand Anxieties that Plague Me Like Demons in a Medieval Christian Allegory" by Barbara Hamby

"Days" by Billy Collins

"Working at Pam-Pam's" by Barbara Hamby 

"A Few Lines at Summer Solstice" by Twyla M. Hansen

"Planting Initiation Song" (Osage women)

"Anchorage" by Joy Harjo

 

Smart Girls, Part Two

FLIGHT

Finley aims with a clear eye

Light arrow hits the mark,

Ignoring flights of fancy.

Grounded in her beingness.

Home in herself, and her

Trajectory of success

SHAPES

Sharp mind

Humorous and humble

Anna squares off

Pointing to contradictions

Embracing all conversation

Safe in her circle of knowing

Warm Fire

Cassidy -- a warm fire in a cold world.

Ready for anything, her eyes glittering.

She moves as if in a palace

of her own making, of her

own creation, knows how to be good,

how to stay in deserving graces.

SILVER

Sophisticated and modern

Intuitive and balanced

Living in harmony with others

Velvet fits this girl Ja'kira

Emblem of soft strength

Regal, graceful, and smooth

CREST

Curls rest atop her head

Reaching and rising, Amiyah is an

Emblem of the wave, the hill

Sailing her way to the apex

Taking up her coat of arms

Night Wind

Erica must know

the foreverness of blue sky

the elusiveness of night wind

the voices of mountains

taking her into herself.

 

Hannah Flies

In a moment of clarity

Hannah flies

face as fresh as

a winter day

searching for the high place

believing in

the soundless shadow of love.

STRING

Stretching herself

Threading ideas together

Run of academic success

Intricate movements

Never losing composure

Grounded and centered -- Emily

SILENCE

Spends class time in silence.

It is her right to do so.

Listening, but responding rarely.

Expressing her thoughts carefully.

Navia may not be loquacious, but has

Collected within herself

Everything she will ever need.

* Inspirations *

"Flight" by Twyla M. Hansen

"Urban Renewal XX" by Major Jackson

"Ode to My Mother's Handwriting" by Barbara Hamby

"Spiddal Harbor" by David Whyte 

"Savior" by Maya Angelou

"Fire" by Joy Harjo

"In a Moment of Madness, a Dublin Poet Thinks for an Old Love" by David Whyte

"Call It Fear" by Joy Harjo

"Tuesday June 4, 1991" by Billy Collins

This Old Reading Class

This week I had my reading classes fill out a survey (questions listed at the bottom), and it has caused quite a bit of contemplation on my part.  I was even up in the middle of the night thinking about 7th period and what needs to be done there.  It will probably come as no surprise to you that my two classes with 17 kids barely had any complaints, but that the issues rose higher with the number of kids in a class, culminating in my 28-member 7th period being the one with the most issues.

Oh for the days of reasonable class sizes!

Anyway, today I read a poem by David Whyte called "How the Rocks Came to Ireland," and I loved this line:

...the land opened up an old door again.

I decided this was a Golden Shovel poem for me. It is the end of the semester, a time to reflect and make plans to improve. This is my mode of operation every year. Some things never change!

The Door

Going through my student surveys has brought the

necessary messages to land

in front of me, to help me open

up to challenges and possibilities, to change up

what isn't working and bring an

increase of what they need in this old

reading class; their words are the door

I enter to create and innovate once again.

***

Survey questions I got from Pernille Ripp

Would you consider yourself a good student in this class? Why or why not?

Do you use your time well in class? Why or why not?

Do you feel respected by the teacher? Feel free to explain.

What do you wish I wouldn't do, or do less?

How would you realistically change this class?

What do you wish I would notice?

Overall, do you like being a student in this class?

Anything else?

Dimensions

This collection includes all sorts of poems: Inner Voice, Golden Shovel, and Acrostic

Bethsada Believes

Comes to us as curious

Lifetime of deep interest

And immersion, Bethsada

lost in what engrosses her,

been happy to follow that path,

finds herself in the perfect place.

Leading and Lifting

Luis brings with him a wholeness

that enhances our life

in the classroom. He led

the way from the start, celebrating

being a reader, lifting his youth

to new heights.

NORTH

Not one to ever give up, Jefferson takes

Obstacles as the challenge they are meant to be,

Renewing the strength of his character and centering him

Trusting the long road has a purpose and

Holds the promise to the future he deserves.

 POETRY

Poetry in motion, as they say

On display with beauty, language, and expression

Enter Kristi, a quiet marvel

Tracing her outline in our class

Reaping the benefits of learning, saying

Yes to her own sound and rhythm. 

HEART

Hugs, hugs, hugs

Everywhere she goes, Jasmin's

Arms reach for others

Reveling in embrace, showing her

Thoughtful love and acceptance.

LIFTED

Lithe and lifelong learner

Interested and introspective, Ke'ahna

Favors thinking for herself

Trusting her mind implicitly

Expecting to succeed

Dividend earned from hard work.

SPEAK

Saying what is on his mind

Preferring one-on-one conversations

Expressing his opinion, his daily challenges

Austin provides for us a

Key into his perspective of the world.

WORDS

(for Josh)

Wherever he goes

Opinions are given

Reasons and comments

Doesn't doubt himself

Steady and strong.

*

"Later Life: A Double Sonnet of Sonnets" by Christina Georgina Rossetti

"Urban Renewal XVIII" by Major Jackson

"Crossing the Border" by Joy Harjo

"Ode to My 1977 Toyota" by Barbara Hamby

"Hands Across the Water" by David Whyte

"Sunday Morning with the Sensational Nightengales" by Billy Collins

"Letter to Brooks" by Major Jackson

"Someone Talking" by Joy Harjo