April - Poetry Month - Day 30 and Poetry Friday - Endings

 

Thanks for hosting this final Friday of April, of Poetry Month, Matt Forrest Esenwine, whom you'll find at Radio, Rhythm, & Rhyme taking time to share some who've written in a new form of poetry titled a "tri-cube" Matt shared it a couple of weeks ago. Here's one for him:

                          

having fun

with rhythm

plus rhyming

 

writing with

his children,

too, who learn

 

from Dad, (he’s

learning, too!)

inspiring

        L. Baie (c)

 
         Remember to check out the list of what everyone has been doing at Susan Bruck's blog: Soul Blossom Living!
         
          Plus! Check each day for the added line to the Progressive Poem, created by Irene Latham, now hosted by Margaret Simon! The link is to the right! I am looking forward to reading the finish today, by Michelle Kogan! What a wonderful idea Irene started and Margaret has continued! And thanks to everyone for creating another gem.  

           TIME TO CELEBRATE POETRY! 

       I have tried, most times, to create from a Wabi-Sabi perspective. I believe that at times, I created something close. Diane Mayr was kind enough to send me the book by  Leonard Koren titled Wabi-Sabi, for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers, which I've read all or part of every day since I received it. I am grateful for it and the thoughtful gift from Diane. Yes, it helped me work for understanding. It is something I'll keep pondering, wandering into this new world. 

       Thanks to every poet who wrote, whose poems I enjoyed every day. I didn't get to all every day, but many, and it made the bumpy weather road called April a lovely month. 

       walking through grasses,

       grieving this departure –

       Hello! tomorrow

                            Linda Baie ©

SOL16 - 31/31 FINIS

SOL16 - 31/31 - THE ENDING

      I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community for Day Thirty-One of Thirty-One of the Slice of Life Challenge in March.  Thank you Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb.  

        I began the journey of slicing in 2011, have now completed my sixth year of this challenge. This time I re-read all my past "final" slices, and the first "ending" one is here. In it, if you are interested, I write of gathering goodbye poems to print, laminate and give to students on the final day of school. And then that year, I wrote a goodbye poem to all the bloggers, YOU, who wrote so faithfully every day. 
        My feelings remain unchanged. I am grateful for the community, the care and support from the seemingly tireless hosts, and those numerous others who visited my blog.  I read every day, the "now" lasting friendships I've made whether I've met you in person or not. And the wonderful thing is, through these years I have met some of you! Enjoy the rest of your year, whether teaching or in other adventures of the world. I will look for you on Tuesdays. . .

Celebrating - School, Different Moments

              Celebrating Each Saturday with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build. There is a lovely group that celebrates, so join us!                      Tweet at #CelebrateLu

        Still learning about writing haiku, still wondering about the words chosen, and those leftovers that are challenging to give up.

23)

sharing words

celebrating April days -

granddaughter’s book

 Linda Baie © All Rights Reserved

SOLC # 31 - Endings Good & Bittersweet

Blogging with my class, and we're on spring break! Find them at Linda and Jonathan's Class Blog.

             It's the final Slice of Life for this March. We'll be back every week, but not all together as we have been. Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Anna and Beth for keeping the party going, day by day by day. It was a pleasure!  Find all the final links at the Two Writing Teachers blog.

       They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I say that a thousand words--and more-- are worth a picture of a community.  I’ve collected one phrase from a slicer each day, read and loved so many more. What a joyous group. Although sometimes sad and often contemplative, each writer kept writing from her or his life. Congratulations to you all!

1 -   Ask me to stay for just awhile.

  I promise I'll exit with a smile.

2 -   Recently I came across an image of an old fashioned key hole.  In the open space you could see part of a room.  I loved that idea, that image.  It made many connections in my mind.

3 -   Being busy isn’t always bad.  And besides, I’ll have warm chicken chili waiting for me when I get home later.

4 -   How can they remember that they are special, unique, valuable people when they are wading through tests that tell them there is one right answer, one acceptable score, one way to become successful? They're losing the sense that they matter.

5 - The message was as crystal clear as the bubbling Colorado River: we all need to step outside of our everyday strife to take in the beauty of this earth and to remember that we are not on this journey alone.

6 -  I knew then what that "something" was when we held hands during prayer a year before. He was the one. We were married by the end of the year.

7 - This community has made me feel worthy as a writer. It helped me change my opinion of myself and be able to write those four words.  I am a writer.

A Great Finale for All-Write!

        The Tuesday Slice of Life is hosted by Stacey and Ruth at Two Writing Teachers, where many link their posts to share what’s going on in their lives, both personal and educational.  Come visit everyone's posts to check out their writing about their summers!

                After all the earlier sessions, all the talk at breakfasts, lunches and dinners, I attended one more session, that of Dr. Tim Rasinski, now teaching at Kent State University.  You can access his website here!  He also sent other sources of readings for students to use.  If you are interested, let me know.  I have them on Google Docs and can easily share them.  

My Rearview Mirror - #31

The March Slice of Life Challenge is hosted by Stacey and Ruth at their blog,

Two Writing Teachers. - finale!  See you on Tuesdays!

         It’s been such a month, everyone.  Thank you for all your comments of support.   I value the community, and cannot thank you both enough, Ruth and Stacey, for the chance to experience this wonderful group.  For those who want to know, my husband is now in a safe and kind place for dementia residents.  They call it home for the residents, and that is of comfort to me.  He’s had his first night and day there and is okay, more settled.  It’s been another tough week, but I am more comforted now knowing he will be cared for so lovingly.

         I mostly go east when I drive home, so I often look in my rearview mirror, at the mountains and sometimes at sunsets.  Yesterday when driving home, it struck me that this is a reflection of sorts, to look back, using the rearview mirror as my metaphor. I added a little silliness at the end; it's tricky to get this girl to stay still enough to peek into the mirror!

Here we go, leaving home!

A long drive, on the flat of Denver, highway.

See the mountains in the distance-my great view!

Not exactly my rearview, she's the future!

My rearview of this month:

roll·er coast·er – according to Merriam-Webster online

--an elevated railway (as in an amusement park) constructed with sharp curves and steep inclines on which cars roll

--something resembling a roller coaster; especially : behavior, events, or experiences characterized by sudden and extreme changes roller coaster

It’s been a roller coaster ride

with warmth of others at my side-

the highs of writing memories true

the lows of experiencing adieu

words of joy and words of sorrow

I don’t know what might happen tomorrow

yet I know that I choose living

and will continue to go on giving

to others who mean so much to me

regardless of how life turns out to be.