"Yoo-hoooooo, yoo-hooooo!"
For years I did not know
from whom this greeting came
I sensed its direction,
it was loud and clear
But a face or body,
I could never put with it
Today I hear him and I know
It is the Black-capped chickadee
hidden away from view safely
Singing aloud to greet us good morning
Isn't he lovely?
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Bravo!-composed 3/21/12
Today I was proud
A peacock strutting
feathers fanned outward
can not compare
Children hidden within shells of
shyness and doubt cracked open
like little firecrackers lit with
the fuel of excitement
They zoomed, twirled and shone
ever so brightly
Dinosaurs, ladybugs, and dogs
slipped over their hands gave freedom
Freedom to be different and live in the
land of make believe if only for awhile
Upon the curtain closing,
they emerged from behind and bowed
Unified, they worked together
All thumbs up for a job well done
A peacock strutting
feathers fanned outward
can not compare
Children hidden within shells of
shyness and doubt cracked open
like little firecrackers lit with
the fuel of excitement
They zoomed, twirled and shone
ever so brightly
Dinosaurs, ladybugs, and dogs
slipped over their hands gave freedom
Freedom to be different and live in the
land of make believe if only for awhile
Upon the curtain closing,
they emerged from behind and bowed
Unified, they worked together
All thumbs up for a job well done
Blown In-composed 3/7/12
The wind blew in today
bright sunshine and naked trees
Tomorrow sixty seven degrees
The twentieth or sooner he'll leave
Venturing overseas, a new endeavor
He'll swiftly pursue China eastward
She'll stay behind
Wait to hear, and if pleasant
pursue and join him later
For years they nested here
Hanging on with loose fingertips
Willing to move with the seasons
Now March madness has begun
Lions in, lambs move out
friends are moving on
The wind blew in today
with the news of his departure
My heart now longs to hold them both
Before they're swept away
bright sunshine and naked trees
Tomorrow sixty seven degrees
The twentieth or sooner he'll leave
Venturing overseas, a new endeavor
He'll swiftly pursue China eastward
She'll stay behind
Wait to hear, and if pleasant
pursue and join him later
For years they nested here
Hanging on with loose fingertips
Willing to move with the seasons
Now March madness has begun
Lions in, lambs move out
friends are moving on
The wind blew in today
with the news of his departure
My heart now longs to hold them both
Before they're swept away
Reflections on The Our Father- composed 2/28/12
What is a father?
Who is He?
What does He?
HEAVEN
What is it?
Where is it?
When shall it come our way?
HALLOWED
Holy
venerated
Special is His name
THY KINGDOM, THY WILL
What's it like?
What's it made of?
Do you know it?
ON EARTH
When?
How?
Where exactly?
OUR DAILY BREAD
Food and shelter?
Social or emotional?
What form does it take?
FORGIVE AS WE FORGIVE
At the same time?
Anybody and everybody?
All the time?
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
What kinds?
Trials and circumstances?
Must we ask?
DELIVER US FROM EVIL
Which ones?
What does it look like?
Have you been delivered?
Who is He?
What does He?
HEAVEN
What is it?
Where is it?
When shall it come our way?
HALLOWED
Holy
venerated
Special is His name
THY KINGDOM, THY WILL
What's it like?
What's it made of?
Do you know it?
ON EARTH
When?
How?
Where exactly?
OUR DAILY BREAD
Food and shelter?
Social or emotional?
What form does it take?
FORGIVE AS WE FORGIVE
At the same time?
Anybody and everybody?
All the time?
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
What kinds?
Trials and circumstances?
Must we ask?
DELIVER US FROM EVIL
Which ones?
What does it look like?
Have you been delivered?
Priceless -composed 2/12/12
You really don't get it
You wish, you hope, and yearn
to give something so fleeting
all the while not realizing
YOU ARE THE BLESSING
The same blood, genes and make up
even the same smile, a clear
reflection and promise, eternal
reward and blessing
Another's gift- only change, a
brief interlude to the ongoing
seasons of joy spent with you
YOU ARE YOU
That my friend, is more than
ENOUGH
You wish, you hope, and yearn
to give something so fleeting
all the while not realizing
YOU ARE THE BLESSING
The same blood, genes and make up
even the same smile, a clear
reflection and promise, eternal
reward and blessing
Another's gift- only change, a
brief interlude to the ongoing
seasons of joy spent with you
YOU ARE YOU
That my friend, is more than
ENOUGH
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Lessons Unfolding
Outside my classroom window
a house shaped feeder awaits
corn, millet, seeds and nuts
a songbird's favorite mix
Finches arrive on any day
brown wings, red head and neck
along with a nuthatch and
black capped chickadee or two
Red headed woody comes only a bit
Monday is bird day for new birders
anticipating, watching, waiting
the flying acrobats unpredictable
stopping here, there, throughout a day
Tuesday far better to observe-
temperatures dropped, forecasts anew
flurries to be expected next day
Brown, red, black, gray and yellow
all debuted in the great maple tree
Taking turns, they feasted from the feeder
"Ooo's! and Aaah's!" bellowed out
Captured by creation's beauty
Every young mind engaged with awe
Showing up Tuesday, only a day late
a house shaped feeder awaits
corn, millet, seeds and nuts
a songbird's favorite mix
Finches arrive on any day
brown wings, red head and neck
along with a nuthatch and
black capped chickadee or two
Red headed woody comes only a bit
Monday is bird day for new birders
anticipating, watching, waiting
the flying acrobats unpredictable
stopping here, there, throughout a day
Tuesday far better to observe-
temperatures dropped, forecasts anew
flurries to be expected next day
Brown, red, black, gray and yellow
all debuted in the great maple tree
Taking turns, they feasted from the feeder
"Ooo's! and Aaah's!" bellowed out
Captured by creation's beauty
Every young mind engaged with awe
Showing up Tuesday, only a day late
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Injured
I watched the Beagle
Her right hind leg limping
To her dish, she hobbled
Weeks later, she cried
A high pitched "Yip!"
From the sofa to floor
She collapsed in pain
I nudged the dark gelding
My heels signaled to him
Trot, trot we began
Stumbled, rebalanced
We circled around
His head pulled downward
"Hoe."-his rhythm was off
A tall, skinny child recoiled
Spirit deadened within her
Eyes empty and void of light
Muscles or cartilage torn
A soul condemned and stunted
Activities injured
All three wounded and lame
Back home, the Beagle sleeps
Carefully repaired and sedated
Confined for months to heal
Led back to his stall
Untacked and cared for
The gelding rests and drinks
Perhaps only temporary relief
The grown up child hibernates
Unlimited potential asleep
She asks, "Where is my healing?"
Her right hind leg limping
To her dish, she hobbled
Weeks later, she cried
A high pitched "Yip!"
From the sofa to floor
She collapsed in pain
I nudged the dark gelding
My heels signaled to him
Trot, trot we began
Stumbled, rebalanced
We circled around
His head pulled downward
"Hoe."-his rhythm was off
A tall, skinny child recoiled
Spirit deadened within her
Eyes empty and void of light
Muscles or cartilage torn
A soul condemned and stunted
Activities injured
All three wounded and lame
Back home, the Beagle sleeps
Carefully repaired and sedated
Confined for months to heal
Led back to his stall
Untacked and cared for
The gelding rests and drinks
Perhaps only temporary relief
The grown up child hibernates
Unlimited potential asleep
She asks, "Where is my healing?"
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Outsiders-Written 12/27/11
It sounds very awkward
I can totally relate
Others welcoming and kind,
but you're so out of place
Make-up, nails, accessories
are the fluff of some lives
Hunting or scrapbooking
make other ones thrive
We enter such circles
for a moment or two
Not knowing the steps
and so out of tune
Polite gestures and smiles
All hospitality and grace
but a deeper bond lacking
so we put on a face
We are outsiders looking in
standing alone in our pain
til the moment we connect
Now two friends in the rain
No longer alone
We share and we breathe
sighs of relief and comfort
Our pain we now leave
Dedicated to my friend in the rain-
Thank you for sharing the sting and awkwardness
Love you forever!
I can totally relate
Others welcoming and kind,
but you're so out of place
Make-up, nails, accessories
are the fluff of some lives
Hunting or scrapbooking
make other ones thrive
We enter such circles
for a moment or two
Not knowing the steps
and so out of tune
Polite gestures and smiles
All hospitality and grace
but a deeper bond lacking
so we put on a face
We are outsiders looking in
standing alone in our pain
til the moment we connect
Now two friends in the rain
No longer alone
We share and we breathe
sighs of relief and comfort
Our pain we now leave
Dedicated to my friend in the rain-
Thank you for sharing the sting and awkwardness
Love you forever!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Party On!
Celebrate, celebrate
It's never too late!
2011 over and done
2012 has just begun
Gains and losses were oh so many
But even so, I saved some pennies
Accomplishments large and small
A new year ahead with hopes so tall
Losses will ensue, I have no doubt
Lessons will be learned, no need to pout
Good times ahead and challenges to win
Party on my friends, fill your cups to the rim
2012 has started ticking
My resolutions I finished picking
Celebrating a must to do
Finding humor with each new view
What will I say again next year?
Oh, me, oh, my oh near and dear.
It comes so fast the bells I hear.
Enjoy it all and have no fear.
It's never too late!
2011 over and done
2012 has just begun
Gains and losses were oh so many
But even so, I saved some pennies
Accomplishments large and small
A new year ahead with hopes so tall
Losses will ensue, I have no doubt
Lessons will be learned, no need to pout
Good times ahead and challenges to win
Party on my friends, fill your cups to the rim
2012 has started ticking
My resolutions I finished picking
Celebrating a must to do
Finding humor with each new view
What will I say again next year?
Oh, me, oh, my oh near and dear.
It comes so fast the bells I hear.
Enjoy it all and have no fear.
2011 in Review
It's hard to believe that it's a new year, new month and going to be close to 50 degrees outside today. So many things were unexpected in 2011 both in the news and in my own personal life. I accomplished most of the goals I set for this past year and have decided to share the top 10.
TOP 10 ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1. Read at least four new books this year.
2. Planted a garden in memory of my friend, Ellen, who passed away.
3. Learned how to horseback ride and have graduated to a faster horse.
4. Wrote more poetry in 2011.
5. Worked for the summer to make extra money.
6. Got a newer car.
7. Did a presentation with one of my students on Africa. I was able to share about my trip there from many years ago.
8. For the first time, I did C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe with a fourth grade class.
9. Won a field trip grant to take my students to a horse farm and they will get to ride!
10. I have a developed a better relationship with my mother of which I am eternally grateful!
These were all great highlights, but alongside the good were an equal number of challenges as well. Here are the top.
TOP 10 CHALLENGES:
1. Dad was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in the summer.
2. I lost a friend to ovarian cancer in the spring.
3. Another friend was diagnosed with ALS in the winter.
4. More of my students moved away.
5. I lost my vehicle in Hurricane Irene's flooding.
6. A potential relationship for marriage was deferred to friendship only.
7. My mom, Linda's dad passed away.
8. Some friendships have become more distant.
9. Faith has been challenged.
10. Lot's of disasters in the news (earthquakes, floods, etc.).
Overall, there were many gains and losses. I can not even imagine what the new year will hold and yet I have learned the importance of numbering one's days, making and prioritizing goals and still finding things to be thankful for.
The older I get the faster time seems to go and I know I can not do everything. I have to decide what is most important, which always includes maintaining relationships while fulfilling everyday responsibilities for work and home. Perhaps I will write more on additional insights gleaned later.
TOP 10 ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1. Read at least four new books this year.
2. Planted a garden in memory of my friend, Ellen, who passed away.
3. Learned how to horseback ride and have graduated to a faster horse.
4. Wrote more poetry in 2011.
5. Worked for the summer to make extra money.
6. Got a newer car.
7. Did a presentation with one of my students on Africa. I was able to share about my trip there from many years ago.
8. For the first time, I did C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe with a fourth grade class.
9. Won a field trip grant to take my students to a horse farm and they will get to ride!
10. I have a developed a better relationship with my mother of which I am eternally grateful!
These were all great highlights, but alongside the good were an equal number of challenges as well. Here are the top.
TOP 10 CHALLENGES:
1. Dad was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in the summer.
2. I lost a friend to ovarian cancer in the spring.
3. Another friend was diagnosed with ALS in the winter.
4. More of my students moved away.
5. I lost my vehicle in Hurricane Irene's flooding.
6. A potential relationship for marriage was deferred to friendship only.
7. My mom, Linda's dad passed away.
8. Some friendships have become more distant.
9. Faith has been challenged.
10. Lot's of disasters in the news (earthquakes, floods, etc.).
Overall, there were many gains and losses. I can not even imagine what the new year will hold and yet I have learned the importance of numbering one's days, making and prioritizing goals and still finding things to be thankful for.
The older I get the faster time seems to go and I know I can not do everything. I have to decide what is most important, which always includes maintaining relationships while fulfilling everyday responsibilities for work and home. Perhaps I will write more on additional insights gleaned later.
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