What Life Can Be

 I finally got in the car

And drove down to Fort Myers Beach

I was motivated by a book signing at

Annette’s Book Nook 

As well as the collection of books I’ve

Had ready to take to the her

Since last June.

Going over the bridge, colorful building were still in sight

Margaritaville squeezed in

And then a long stretch

With a lot of open spaces.

Only the sturdiest building remained.

I contemplated how I can bring a more youthful approach

To my life

And make more space for fun

I suppose in a way I was hit with my own kind of hurricane

This year

The changes, the losses, the realities

But the Architect of the Universe

Has built a strong structure inside of me

Everything will take time

And that is what I have

Time to create openings for new visions

Of what life can be.

2025 will include plenty of reading & writing

“When you write a poem…”

After running Jim to the doctor this morning, I started thinking about what I would write today. I was contemplating whether to write a poem or share someone else’s poem.

Then this came across my Facebook feed from my friend Dana:

And then I knew I had to share a poem written by one of my students.

I previously wrote about how I put a couple of ideas in front of my intensive readers, one being “If I Were in Charge of the World.” I was giving them a chance yesterday to finish up the poem if they had not done it before break. Getting back into the swing of things can be difficult, so a little writing activity was welcome. In fact, I overheard some kids talking about how much they liked to write. 

In the class is a wonderful young man named Josue. Yes, I’m going to use his actual name. He is kind, quiet, works hard, and is friends with everyone. He doesn’t carry the middle school baggage some kids have, but he also remains a bit of a mystery. So, while other boys were writing about soccer or who they were going to harass if given the chance, Josue submitted this:

If I was the ruler of earth

I would get rid of world hunger because I don’t want my mom to keep

telling me that there are kids that have nothing to eat.

If I were to be ruler of earth,

I would try to make peace in between nuclear wars.

If I were to be ruler of earth,

I would wanna bring back extinct animals and put them on a big island and

see what they do.

If I were to be ruler of earth,

I would just want to give the world peace and that’s it.

*

I felt the gift given in this poem, told him so immediately, and thanked him for it. 

I love knowing the things that are important to this gentle soul who sits in my classroom now, but could easily fall off my radar in the future. I don’t want that to happen, and I feel the need to honor him here.

So thank you, Josue, for your vision of a world community that works. You have a part in this! Know that I see a beautiful future for you, no matter where you go or what you do. You are a peacemaker and a poet. You have much to give. 

Keep the hunger. 

Keep the focus. 

Keep on writing.

Changing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committed to my vision

Have the plan in place

Aware that I will be tugged

Not going to let that phase me

Going to move forward in trust

I know the way, I can listen

Now is the only time I have

Got to go for what I know