Thursday, March 28, 2019

Poetry Friday - Tuning Up


            Carol Wilcox at Carol's Corner hosts Poetry Friday today with a beautiful poem about daffodils. I just changed my blog picture for spring, imagine that Carol will like it!  Thanks for hosting, Carol. 

             It is an exciting prelude, like that time before a concert when one hears the orchestra tuning up, sometimes called a "Tuning A" when they get in line with the oboe A and others follow. Later, mixed, one can call it a cacophony, sets the heart racing, doesn't it? I am calling to mind that it is nearly April, poetry month when some make poetry goals and write every day, Irene Latham's Progressive Poem calls for 30 poets to create together, Jama Rattigan collects everyone's goals to share, some tag along and write to the goals of others. 
          Extra: Tabatha Yeatts shares a link to poems teachers and librarians can print for poetry month, titled "Poetry in The Halls". I'm grateful to be one of the poets!

             I have fussed with my goal in recent weeks, settling on a book of ideas that I used long ago in the classroom. I haven't used it in a while, think it will be good to return to the words for a personal approach. There are introductions to various ideas along with trying forms, too. Here's my visual, the book's cover, one I'll use starting Monday!










            A group of us have been writing poems for Laura Shovan's late birthday celebration this month in a closed FB group, this year each contributing food picture prompts. Some days I dash off a poem that is not particularly heartfelt, and I can tell, but time pushes me to "be done". Other days, I ponder and mess with the words more, finally getting to a nugget of what feels good. I'm sharing a couple of poems written that I'm rather fond of.

prompt - cookies Molly Hogan


Learning - Not Just for Students

In my first year of teaching,
first grade, thirty plus kids,
run-down neighborhood,
my colleague and I 
and students
held a Christmas pageant.
(This was a long time ago
when schools did this.)
I baked sugar cookies
every day for a week.
With my colleague,
hundreds of cookies
piled up for the big night.
I thought I’d have leftovers
enough to share with friends.
When I stood at the refreshment table,
chatting with the parents,
praising the kids,
I saw more than one
wrap cookies to put into handbags.
It’s when I began bringing snacks
to share every day in class.
It’s when I noticed one boy
wore baby shoes to class.
It’s when I realized that teaching
meant more than reading and writing,
would cost me more than money.
Cookies only solve some of the problems.

Linda Baie ©


prompt - soup - Linda Mitchell

City Storm

There’s a pot of soup on the stove
that I knew would be there today.
Last winter vegetables.
A cold front blew in 
as the weatherman told.
Last storm?
People scurry for milk and bread
as if we’d never have another chance.
They forget we now have snowplows,
and four-wheel drive
and five loaves in the freezer.
The soup will warm us against the winter.
We’ll feel like all is right with our world,
at least today.

Enjoy reading, writing, or singing poetry next month!

29 comments:

  1. Oh, that first poem. My heart. Beautiful. *That* is why we teach - yet these days, it feels like policy makers don't even consider the soul of teaching. So glad you brought those moments back to me. xx

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    1. Thanks, Kat, when we write, it can be an awakening of what we visit from the past. Yes, why we teach!

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  2. I love both of these poems. The cookie poem- so true. Every break, including this one, I wonder whether my kids are hungry, because I know some are. And the soup- I went to the store and got ingredients for chili during that last blizzard. I may do soup again today, just because it's chilly and the warmth would make me feel like all is right with the world.

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    1. And I love, love, love your new header, especially the idea of "perpetual astonishment."

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    2. Thanks, Carol. I do think of those children on spring break, not always getting the food they need. And today's weather does call for chili for sure! I'm glad you like the header and the quote, thought you would with your own daffodil celebration!

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  3. Linda, soup is the warming touch for winter days. I made quite a bit this past season. It soothes the soul who yearns for warmth. While our winter was mild - only about 2-4 inches of snow that would come and go, it was cold. Cold leads to my son complaining about his leg muscles that ache. I am looking forward to warmth and more poems that you will share on the virtues of spring days.

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    1. It might be interesting to do some kind of soup history, at least highlights of the past. We've had more snow in March than the rest of winter, now waiting for some tonight! Then warming again. Thanks, Carol!

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  4. These are such beautiful and honest poems. Your heart is a poem. Food connects us and stories of food bring us home. Thank you, Linda. I look forward to your project...and to checking out this book too. x

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    1. Thanks, Amy, it's an exciting new adventure. I'm glad you like the poems. They have been good to write, to capture the moments.

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  5. Cookies and soup! You know I love these poems, Linda. First one is touching and poignant, revealing, and you've captured the warmth and comfort of soup in the second poem -- almost makes me wish winter would stick around. But then, soup is good any time of the year. :) Looking forward to seeing how you use Important Words (new to me). Happy Almost Poetry Month!

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    1. Thanks, Jama. I'm sure you would have loved all the poems written this month in our group. They've been funny and poignant and oh so clever. More coming, right?

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  6. Linda, that first poem...my career is ending with similar experiences. I had no idea at the beginning of my career how important little things like snacks could be. I love that I have so much learning to do. It humbles me and makes me want to work harder. Your poem does that too. And, you KNOW I love that soup poem. The warmth and goodness is all there.

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    1. As you can read, I didn't know about the snacks, either, Linda. Thanks for sharing some of your feelings about this, too. It's sad that years pass and the problems remain.

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  7. I have been all but absent in the Facebook group this month. I can't really explain, except new grandchild, new students, SOLC, National Boards, and so on. But I do love reading and writing poetry. I'm glad you posted these two. So much easier to find and read here. I especially like the one about cookies. So poignant, that realization of the reality of teaching.

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    1. Sometimes we just cannot do it all, Margaret. I am wondering how to continue my other blog posts & April poetry posts, too! I'm glad you enjoyed my cookie poem. Thanks!

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  8. We are lucky enough to have a volunteer group that delivers sack lunches to the neediest neighborhoods near our school during breaks. But yes, teaching is an expensive career, costing teachers (the ones who pay attention and do something about what they see) more than just money, but also emotional collateral. That's part of the importance of breaks -- we need to refill the well! Mine is nearly full again, and I'm ready to get back and see about making it through Testing Season with some sanity and compassion to spare!

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    1. Yes, you are lucky, Mary Lee. Wishing that everyone could understand the challenges. And, I'm happy that you've had a good break. I remember. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. I love these thoughtful and poignant poems. I can see why you are so fond of them. Thank you for sharing your words with us!

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    1. You're welcome, Kiesha. This group was a joy to write with and offered terrific prompts.

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  10. Both poems have such good endings, Linda. I am wondering about the boy in baby shoes...
    Looking forward to hearing your NPM exercises -- I always need new ideas and forms :-)!

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    1. Thanks, Tabatha. It was my first experience with people who were very poor. This family had five children and an older one in the school had much care of them because the parents worked early and late. The boy I had was tiny, malnourished & still wore his baby shoes. It was a delicate thing to find shoes for him so kids wouldn't tease him. My colleague and I managed to hold a "shoe exchange" where some could bring shoes no longer fitting their children and do a trade. In it, we found him a pair. (We also called on some other friends to donate, too. It helped!) Thanks for asking!

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  11. Learning- Not Just For Students, it hit home. A friend teaches at a public elementary school in a poverty stricken area of her town. She said she doesn't look forward to spring break or winter break, because so many of her students come back so fatigued and hungry :(

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    1. As I wrote earlier, it is sad that the problem continues to be real in our "rich" country. Thanks, Kimberly

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  12. I loved "Learning--Not Just for Students" when I first read it, but I missed your soup poem, which is also wonderful. Spring is beginning to take hold here, so hopefully no more soup weather! I'm looking forward to your April project, Linda!

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    1. Thank you, Catherine. We had snow yesterday and Friday night, but now warming up again. Hoping that is the end! Here's to April pleasures!

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  13. I'm so, so in awe of teachers, especially in disadvantaged neighborhoods, but really everywhere, because need can be about so much for than income levels or demographics. Teachers are so much more than givers of knowledge - they are so often counsellors and social workers and therapists, providers and caregivers and extended unofficial family members. Teachers are society's unsung heroes!

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    1. I think teachers would love to read your words, Jane. Congress representatives would learn much spending time in the classroom. Thank you!

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  14. Both poems bring back memories of school for me! Thanks, Linda.

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