Monthly Archives: April 2024

I’ve Been Writing This Since

poetry

I’ve been writing this since
I noticed that I keep noticing
spring trees lining a path
Maybe every spring
I don’t know the names of trees
even the ones you think I should know
but I see them with their small spring blossoms
line the road, your driveway, some sidewalks

I’ve been writing this since
I drove by a lone tree in a front yard
just today
it had purple flowers, a flat top
I guess that the trees don’t have to line a path
for me to dream of sitting with them

I’ve been writing this since
I got married down a long winding
tree-lined driveway
it felt like windswept magic down that drive
I don’t know the names of trees
even the ones that lead the way

I’ve been writing this since
I took my dog on a walk on Saturday
I stopped to smell the sweet white flowering tree
next to the sidewalk
I don’t know the names of trees
even the ones that smell almost
but not quite
like lilac

I’m looking for poetry challenges. Today I found one by checking out Ethical ELAs prompt. Today’s linked to an earlier post: “I’ve been Writing this Since.”

Telephone

Family, poetry 

I got a phone for my birthday once
like a corded one
for my room
pink
landline
land
line
I got in trouble for talking
on my phone too much
not being
not using 
talking
Talk
ing
with my voice 
to my friend’s 
into their ear on the other end
to my boyfriend
sometimes all night 
until we’d fall asleep
the phone would fall too
Luckily he wasn’t long distance
Not to get all 
Taylor Swift on you
but I’m not sure
lucky 
would be the word I’d use for 
him
even though HE dID latEr know how 
to 
get lucky 
with the other woman
At some point we must have gotten
call waiting
We’d have 
had to
since I was on the phone 
all night
long


I’m looking for poetry challenges. Today I was inspired by “Noteworthy” on Ethical ELA, and the prompt to reflect on communications from the past.

Whelm

poetry

I am not so good at
goodbyes
I cry.
I cry.
Today a friend said
she’s maybe not so good
at transitions
Transitions.
Almost everyone I talk to
is overwhelmed.
over.
whelmed.
Overwhelmed.
I thought maybe
I’d just like to be
plain old
whelmed
but then I
looked it up
Whelm:
to submerge; engulf
to overcome utterly; overwhelm
I guess
somehow
whelm
is a synonym of overwhelm
Then I thought I had it figured out
underwhelm!
But.
Then I looked it up
Underwhelm:
to fail to impress
Well.
strike that
I’m pretty good at
whelm
over, under,
just pain
whelm

I’m looking for poetry challenges. Today I did a Free Verse. Free Verse Friday! It’s a thing. Because I made it a thing!

Somehow it’s my Sister’s Birthday Today

Celebrate, Family, poetry

Somehow it’s my sister’s birthday today
I was 12 when she was born
My parents waited to tell me my mom was in labor
So I could go to school for
Whatever standardized test was happening in Pennsylvania
34 years ago

Words cannot describe how excited I was to finally
Have a sibling
I handed out big sister purple pencils instead of cigars
I was obviously a very cool seventh grader
(My perm sealed the deal.)
But the actual coolest thing was my baby sister.
And my sister is
Actually still
The coolest
For real
I mean, have you talked to her?
Have you seen her art?

See this favorite family picture
It’s one of my favs, I’m sure you can see why
Notice please-
Her bangs and smile
Her dress with the white lace collar
My dark teenage eyes, somehow perfect hair
The cool shirt I vaguely remember and now suddenly miss
The way my mom casually holds my sister
My dad’s small smile and his sweater
(My parents here about my age now)
Don’t miss
The toucan behind us!

No More Elegies Today

poetry, Reflections on coaching, Reflections on teaching

Today I will

write a poem

about bittersweet joy

It will not be meant to sway you with metaphor.

It will not be toxic

or double-edged

or dramatic.

But rather about the joy that

breaks your heart

just a little piece though.

But rather the laughing 8 year old

trying to figure out what

fitting in means.

But rather the birthday girl watching her

mermaid balloon fly into the clouds

all the grown-ups around suddenly a team of distractors.

But rather groups of teachers

together problem solving and laughing too

because adversity needs humor,

because humor creates belonging.

But rather the friend of a friend

leaning forward with understanding to whisper

“It’s hard to listen to something

so riddled with untruth.”

I’m looking for poetry challenges. Today I wrote inspired by “To Elegize or Not to Elegize” on Ethical ELA.

If ever there were a spring day so perfect

Uncategorized

If I could
Ever get rid of this migraine
There would be so many ways to enjoy this day!
Were my medicine to work
A sunny Sunday like this could be filled with
Spring celebrations, nature hikes with the dog, gardening! This
Day could be used and enjoyed
So very much. Instead I will whine and complain about a
Perfect day, wasted while the dog whines at the door.

I’m looking for poetry challenges. Today I wrote inspired by “If Ever There were a Spring Day so Perfect” on Ethical ELA.

Brain Dump

poetry

“Let your brain dump.”
Um
I actually try
not
to dump
my brain
I know what it feels Iike to
be dumped
and it seems like that would not be the kind of thing to do if you were
attempting self love:
Dump
your
brain
But- honestly my therapist would probably like me to dump my brain – the one that overthinks and judges judges judges myself.

“What if you just did it,
but without judgement?”
She often asks me.

What if, indeed!

I’m looking for poetry challenges. Today I wrote inspired by The Brain Dump on Ethical ELA, even if didn’t actually do the prompt correctly :0)

Ode to Goodbyes

poetry

Ode to Goodbyes

Oh goodbyes
thank you for giving us
a reason to celebrate
and cry
or hold back tears
while celebrating
the ends of things
one door shuts
another one opens
somewhere
down a long hallway

Without you, goodbyes,
would we think
to stop
to appreciate?
to give each other
gifts and cards
and kind words?

Once I sobbed on the last day of school.
My second graders were very confused.
Once my sixth-graders sobbed on the last day of school
I stood back and watched them say
Goodbye.

I’ve said goodbye to friends
a man I thought I knew
countless children I called
“my class”
And now I say
Goodbye
to
you

I’m looking for poetry challenges. Today I wrote inspired by An Ode to the Unworthy on Ethical ELA…