Poetry Friday - Celebrating #MarvelousMaryLee

 Thanks to Christie Wyman, hosting this Poetry Friday, at her blog, Wondering and Wandering

        And, it's Christie's birthday, time for celebrating. Happy Birthday!

 

AND - It's an especially huge celebration for Mary Lee Hahn's retirement! After thirty-seven years, Mary Lee is leaving the classroom, ready for her next adventure(s)! #PoemsforMaryLee   #MarvelousMaryLee

          Here's my poem of celebration for your retirement and gratitude for the teacher that is you, Mary Lee.

 

for Mrs. Hahn, My Teacher

 

From the flower to the gardener

(this student to my teacher),

thanks for caring that I flourish,

for knowledge I will cherish,

I’m grateful for the way you helped me grow.

 

I’ll try that thing called “listen”

before I rush to judgment.

I’ve learned that words do matter;

they’re rarely mindless chatter.

That is a thing that I’ll be sure to show.

 

When you venture from our classroom,

your presence leaving imprints,

the kindnesses will linger in the air.

Parts of you will always remain there.

You’ve taken care of much I need to know.

 

Linda Baie ©

 

Grunge Stock photos by Vecteezy

Poetry Friday - Can We Change?

            Poetry Friday is hosted by Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading. She's sharing about a challenge given a few years ago by Gene Luen Yang he called "Reading Without Walls" and some beautiful poems by a poet you may or may not know: Marilyn Chin.
           The latest tragedy, the terrible and unnecessary death of George Floyd has happened and my mind swerves to a different sorrow. Mary Lee's sharing of this challenge is one all of us should pay attention to.

            It's been about ten weeks since I've 'mostly' been at home. Things are changing; days have changed. I'm planning to spend more time with the grandgirls, guiding them through a kind of 'summer camp' of learning, in lieu of all the past camps they usually have attended in the past. And, the bookstore is opening, albeit on a limited and restricted schedule. Being flexible feels like the key to good days now. April's poetry challenges and the #PoemsofPresence challenge from Margaret Simon at Today's Little Ditty, then on twitter has been a boost for everyday poetry, plus reading and simply enjoying other's beautiful and thoughtful words. 

          Last week for Poetry Friday, April Halprin Wayland proposed a new form here at Teaching Authors. We could choose a word, perhaps a favorite, and write from all the words that can be found within it. We can do that ourselves or, wonderful find, we can go to a site called Word Maker and let it do the work. I did try myself, but then succumbed to the invitation of this site.
          I chose the word, serendipity, long a favorite. I love that things happen with great connections yet without understanding how, but they do!

          Thus, a poem emerged in response to where we are in this time we could never have imagined. I am hopeful that our new and changing world will help those in most need. 

We Are Intrepid

Now that we  are riding fewer riptides,

though some types

try to be trendy,

try to pretend

a different present,

follow the spin from the president.

I am only inspired

by truth-tellers who take pride

in helping us understand how to reset,

how to gather good resources for proper nests,

protecting within changing tides ­–

the needy,

our peers,

even welcome those who deny.

We see truth with our eyes.

We feel it ripen.

Now, we have a spirit

like our elders,

ready to create a new destiny.

Linda Baie © 

           

Sparking Imagination

            Here is another poem inspired by Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading, and her wonderful April posts/poems.  Please visit!  

             Don't forget to look to the right to see whose turn it is to add a line to the 2nd Annual Progressive Poem, the idea created by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem.  Then head over to see how it's going!

             A giveaway to note!  Visit the Teaching Authors website for a terrific giveaway. 


             Here is my poem written in response to the antique map:

In My Mind’s Eye

This older map

of straight lines

hides the crooked stories

of the past:

in the houses

down the street,

next door,

across the way,

in the alley,

catty-cornered,

in the park,

third floor,

a street away,

at the second stop sign,

along the river,

just out of town.

I just need to look

and imagine.

© Linda Baie

Wednesday Spring Song

"A Poem should not mean, but be."  Archibald Macleish

        Last Sunday, I wrote nearly these same words, about Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading, and her wonderful April posts/poems, written using media from the Creative Commons site and teaching about proper attribution at the same time.  It's been full of beautiful words written, along with learning and inspiration.  Please visit!  

             Don't forget to look to the right to see whose turn it is to add a line to the 2nd Annual Progressive Poem, the idea created by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem.  Then head over to see how it's going!

Here is my poem written in response to a link shared of forest sounds.

Back Home

Rasp and chatter

Carolina Wren

calls me back

to my forest friends

teakettle, teakettle

cheer cheer cheer

cardinal flashing

spring is here

alive with chicka-dee

leafy-damp smell

walking in my forest

all is well

©Linda Baie, 2013