Category Archives: poetry

#sol22 March 31 I’m Not a Unicorn

March 31, 2022poetry, Slice of Lifeonathought

I may not ever be a unicorn, but I am a writer
I’ve been thinking about this
all-day since I put on the shirt my friend gave me
It says “Being a Unicorn was hard, so I decided to become a writer”

I mean, honestly, being a writer is hard too
But I can’t stop now
I won’t stop now

I had a hilarious chat with a teacher today, and as we laughed and walked our separate ways she called after me,
“Don’t write about me!”

I said, “Well, now I kinda have to, right?”
But I will respect her wishes.
I’ve decided that telling this part of the story doesn’t count.

The thing is, I will keep telling my story
And if you are
secretly thinking
Don’t write about me!
I’m here to say
It might be too late
I will never be a unicorn, but
I am
will always be
a
Writer

#sol22 March 22 A Drive on March 22

March 22, 2022poetry, Slice of Lifeonathought

I’m happy I’m in a van
not a Bonneville
You oughta know

That’s what I’m thinking
as Alanis sings
and I drive

There’s a bird in the road
I wish she would move
like she’s supposed to

I look in the mirror
the bird is walking
back to where she started

Why does she like that spot
in the middle of the road?
I wonder, I worry

Alanis sings some more
I turn up the volume
Why are you so petrified of silence?

March 22 doesn’t mean
anything
anymore

#sol22 March 21 This Stye in my Eye

March 21, 2022poetry, Slice of Lifeonathought

When something is bothering me
I like to write a little bit of poetry
Then I can complain and whine-
It’s more fun if you make it rhyme!

I have an annoying stye
in the lower lid of my left eye
this added much dismay
to my sunny, spring otherwise lovely school day

Before this stye came along
there were plenty of other things wrong
enough stuff to make anyone queasy
but blaming the stye? That’s super easy

The world is full of hullabaloo
All sorts of real trouble people are attending to
Much Worse than my having to be courageous
with a little stye that’s not contagious

But this stye
In my eye
I can’t deny
It’s enough to magnify
the problems I can’t specify

#sol22 March 17 Imperfect Limericks

March 17, 2022pandemic, Pets, poetry, Reflections on coaching, Slice of Lifeonathought

Addicted
I wrote a limerick example as one way
To help teachers who write find a slice today
But now I’m conflicted
Am I addicted?
Or, is it maybe okay?

Teacher Writers
This March there are some teachers
For writing, they don’t sit in the bleachers
They know there’s a way
To Slice every day
They’re part of our schools’ best features

Speaking of School
There once was a year so academic
You couldn’t tell there’d been a pandemic
I’m kidding you know
It does totally show
Because the trauma is systemic!

Masks
All the learners in school wear a mask
It’s not really a whole lot to ask
But on Monday, it’s true
It’ll be optional for you
I hope the teachers are up for the task

Lunchbreak
Thought I’d come home for a quick little walk
Take the dog once or twice ‘round the block
But the cat dragged his butt
And there was poop in his strut
So I mopped and kept checking the clock

Leadership
I was happy to run a teacher-writers meeting
We were writing and talking, I was happily leading
Until I couldn’t unmute
That was really a hoot
My leadership? Unfortunately was fleeting!

Slice
I could just use the limericks I’ve already written
Imperfect, I know but still, I am smitten
I’m hooked for sure
And I’ve looked, there’s no cure
So I hope my limerick slices will still fit in!

#sol22 March 11 From my (Uncle’s) Chair

March 11, 2022Family, poetry, Slice of Lifeonathought

From my chair I see 
boats on lifts 
waiting  to be lowered into 
grey green water rippling through
a coastal waterway

From my chair I watch
for dolphins
as they curve in and out of the water
I saw them this morning 
But I'm feeling greedy 

From my chair I see
an ibis
a heron
I think - I'm not so great with the bird names

From my chair I see
palm trees 
sway
as the wind picks up
the birds swoop down
the water ripples
and I watch for 
dolphins

#sol22 March 9 Captain Al

March 9, 2022poetry, Slice of Lifeonathought

Captain Al described the island as uninhabitable, un-walkable, spooky
as we passed an opening where you could almost see through the first layer of twisted roots and branches
"I don't think anyone ever wrote a poem about walking through the mangrove island," he said
and I took it as a challenge

I've kayaked through mangroves
I've touched their branches to push my kayak back on course
I've passed by a crocodile, still as a rock sunning on the shore framed by mangroves 
and other crocodiles too
Captain Al himself told us of the hidden prairie as we passed the last key, complete with a beach 
a family used to come on and off the shore of their home there years ago

Now I learn that mangrove pods contain fully developed miniature mangroves
that float horizontally as far away from their parent tree as they can
before turning vertical and planting their roots in the muddy ground 
"Seem familiar?" Captain Al asks

My dad, next to me on the boat asks if this must mean the mangrove islands keep expanding
"Oh yes," Captain Al says
"Beautiful beaches are temporary." 

I probably won't ever walk through the twisting muddy mangrove island
where I might finally get a few feet in only to be greeted by a crocodile
But I can boat by
I can watch the anhingas, herons, osprey and  egrets 
I can peer through the branches
I can imagine walking through
And I can certainly 
write a poem

#sol22 March 4 I love I wonder

March 4, 2022poetry, Slice of Lifeonathought

I love, I wonder

I love
the way the cats wait for me at the bottom of the steps in the morning
I wonder
if they start waiting at a certain time, or hear my alarm, or me, or maybe they just know what time it is?

I love
the pink and orange sunrise through the trees in my backyard
I wonder
when will the trees be green again and will it feel sudden? I don’t remember what the sunrise looks like through the trees when they are full

I love
when my coffee is perfect – smooth and creamy with a hint of maple
I wonder
will I move my quiet coffee time from the couch to the porch when it’s warm again? If I close my eyes I can feel those spring mornings

I love
quiet mornings that start with stretching, journaling, mindful light therapy before I scroll
I wonder
how long will these good habits last? How many good habits can you start at once and what good habit can I start next?

#sol22 March 3

March 3, 2022Family, Pets, poetry, Slice of Lifeonathought

My house is quieter now-
unless the boys are wrestling or yelling at each other or singing loudly for all to hear,
unless the dog is barking
When they were babies, toddlers, preschoolers, I used to tell myself "you'll miss this noise."
I was wrong
I don't miss the noise.
well, sometimes I do
I do miss the cuddles, the chatter, the little hands, the weight of a sleeping child on my shoulder
the weight of a sleeping child on my shoulder

A quiet early morning
I remember when mornings started this early but with crying, or drumming, or a Super Friends DVD so I could sit with my coffee
I sneak downstairs early this morning, trying not to wake the dog
I tripped on a boot on the steps, and heard his doggy yoga stretch begin
I used to be scared of the dark
But somehow after betrayal, the dark isn't so scary
Outside, I breathe in the quiet and watch the dog sniff around
Until a strange noise comes from the darkness of the street
I watch my dog become more interested in the noise, and quickly bring him in
I've been expecting an owl
That was not an owl
I wait until the sun is up to try going outside again
The house is quieter
In this moment I am thankful for this mindful time to write
I miss the cuddles, the chatter, the little hands, the weight of a sleeping child on my shoulder

A Slice of boundaries

January 11, 2022Pets, poetry, Slice of Lifeonathought

It’s cold in the morning
I pull on slippers, and walk downstairs, still yawning
My 2 cats meow.
Luckily, the dog is still sleeping upstairs.

I want to give myself a prize for remembering to set the coffee timer last night
I turn the heat up a few notches, choose a mug, pour my coffee, sit on the couch
with just a few of my mom’s crocheted blankets.

There’s not actually time to be lonely
Talula, the tabby, is content to sit near me for just a moment
She allows me one or two quick scratches on her soft, soft head
Theodore, the orange and white nudging fluff ball?
He wants constant attention
It’s harder than you think to balance coffee, a cat and a phone
So I alternate: Sip coffee and pet the cat; Flip through emails and pet the cat; Sip coffee and pet the cat; Flip through Facebook and pet the cat. . .

I’m in love with quiet mornings on the couch, and time with my cats without my dog’s jealousy.
(Is this betraying my dog? I don’t know…)
It’s cozy here, but I have responsibilities
Theodore purrs and settles in on my lap
He doesn’t understand that I have to shovel, salt, shower, take the dog out, feed the dog…
All before making sure my kids are up and ready for the bus

I look at Theodore, content and fluffy and I know.
I know that it’s time to set some boundaries
As I apologize and stand up, he runs away, disappointed
A few minutes later he is back in his own bed, asleep

Setting boundaries for your cat must be a
stepping stone
to a life-time of healthy boundary setting –
Right?

A slice of coffee

January 4, 2022Family, poetry, Slice of Lifeonathought

Couch coffee used to be something to do together
And sometimes we still do, in these moments before he moves away
But soon I will be having couch coffee on my own
Well, with the cats

I walk downstairs in the morning
Happy that the Christmas lights are still shining
Cozy cheer to start the day
And end it

I fill the carafe with fresh water
He comes downstairs and finishes making the coffee
I’m still using my Christmas mug
The painted little mini Christmas lights match my tree

We sit on opposite ends of the couch
I remember we used to say we needed a love seat so we could sit closer together
We talk less and less each morning
Slowly ripping the bandaid