All posts by onathought

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…

A Ball of Purple

poetry

A ball of purple

Do not think
paint ball
light ball
purple marker on a page
food coloring
ink blot
playground ball
crayon shavings bunched up
water color drops
ball-shaped pillow

NO.

This is a
ball of
purple.

PURPLE.

the
color
is
it

When the lights turn off
and you think there is no color
the ball of purple
falls in your outstretched hand

defying the laws of
color science
leaving no mark

besides
the smile
the laugh that escapes you
in pure
purple
joy

I’m looking for poetry challenges. Today I wrote inspired by Surprising Supplies on Ethical ELA… And my long-time wish that color didn’t have to be so scientific.

What if

poetry

What if
one day
I stopped
writing?
Would my
fingers type
in the air
like they
sometimes still
play piano
in the air
years after
I stopped
playing piano?

I’m looking for poetry challenges. Today I wrote a What If poem… that I made up. Because somewhere on a some poetry form website I read that most forms are just someone making it up.

My Day: True or False?

poetry, Slice of Life

This slice is part of the Slice of Life on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol24. I’m slicing on Tuesdays. I hope you’ll join me!

Today, I’m using the inspiration from EthicalELA: A True or False List Poem . . . There are some things that are true, there are some things that are false, and you’ll never really know!

My Day: True or False?

Today I

laughed with kindergarteners when they called me Grandma
ate my veggies and mac and cheese lunch at 2:00
fell off a chair and didn’t report it
walked my dog twice in the sunshine
was betrayed by someone who knows who they are
cried with teachers about things that don’t make sense
made big decisions I’ll soon regret
spoke my truth but too softly for anyone to hear
drank 3 cups of coffee before noon
planned arguments and poetry back to back
wrote a diamante about service leadership
told someone off who will never forget or forgive
took a nap on the couch, my book dropped to the floor
baked brownies for tomorrow, a day off of school

Or did I?






Photograph

poetry

There’s a photograph Of me
and my best friend
We are maybe seven
standing in the backyard under an umbrella
with a sprinkler
bathing suits on

Later we would
have pudding pops
float in the pool
swing
color
maybe
play barbies

Look at our
smiles
we are laughing
or were just laughing
or were about to start laughing

sprinklers with umbrellas
laughing with best friends
that’s
what summer meant

Happy April! Happy Poetry Month! 

I’m looking for poetry challenges. Today I wrote a photographic poem!