Category Archives: poetry

Grouchy

poetry, Slice of Life

This slice if part of the Tuesday Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing as many Tuesdays as I can. Thanks for stopping by! It’s also April! That means poetry. Poetry is my favorite.

I tried to research a grouchy poem format. But, I couldn’t find one. So I decided to make my own. It could work with other feeling words, I’m sure. But right now I am very grouchy. Don’t take it too seriously though, writing it was fun.

I am feeling grouchy
and that rhymes with slouchy
which makes sense, especially when I’m
sitting on the couch-y

I am feeling grumpy
and that rhymes with frumpy
which makes sense, especially when its
all so Trump-y.

I am feeling irritable
and that rhymes with uncharitable
which makes sense, especially when life
isn’t really editable

I am feeling snappish
and that rhymes with brattish
which make sense when happy
seems to vanish

I am feeling bitchy
and that rhymes with witchy
which makes sense when days
make me so twitchy

I am feeling snarky
and that rhymes with malarkey
which makes sense when life
ain’t really a party

More hummingbirds, please

poetry, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

Coincidence or not, I don’t know. But, I’ve been asking my friend Mardi for more signs. It’s been awhile since she’s sent one, and I read a book about asking for signs, so I asked.

Hummingbirds.

“More hummingbirds, please.” I think that’s how I said it.

I mean, it might have just been me thinking, “Hummingbirds” and then thinking about her rolling her eyes at me… Because hummingbirds is crazy for March, and Mardi loved to roll her eyes at me.

“Come on, Mardi.” I thought in her general direction – up I guess, right? “Take on the challenge! I mean, if any spirit can show a hummingbird sign in March, it’s you. I have faith.”

I tried to be patient – forgot about my request for a bit and then the other day I thought about it again, wondering if maybe I was asking for a ridiculous thing.

Then today it was time to return a cart of poetry books that our kids had used. I hadn’t looked at them in awhile, and the other class had sticky noted them. So I needed to take the sticky notes out before returning the books. I mostly just took the sticky notes out without paying attention.

But then I opened one of the books to the sticky noted page, and there were the hummingbirds. The poem was sad, and also about something that has been on my mind.

I read the poem, snapped a picture, and whispered, “Thanks, Mardi.”

For some reason I didn’t take a picture of the book this was in, but I will try to find out. I think it may have been from a book full of hummingbird poems!

Spring Break Reset

poetry, Reflections on teaching, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

We went back from spring break today.
It was also a two-hour delay.
As I’m learning, breaks from school make us forget.
Procedures need reviewed,
we need a routine reset.
I get it, I do.
I need a reset too.

But, even though I’m not
surprised
it’s hard not to
roll my eyes.
Like, can I be more blunt?
A line is where someone’s behind you,
and
someone’s in front

I’m sure you will agree
There’s not that many good reasons
to interrupt me
and please, in general
pick a better time
a non direction-giving time
to sharpen your pencil.

I’m glad you are done, or
think you are done
(or are wondering what you are supposed to do)
or need some one on one.
I know waiting is tough,
you’ve had enough.
I get, I do.
I need a reset too.

Fib Fun! How Fantastic.

poetry, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

Alright. Let’s try some Fibonacci Poems – or “Fibs” as they are called here.

I’ve decided to write my Fibs as fibs. For a little extra fun.

Fib Fun! How Fantastic.

Spring
Break
is done
tomorrow
We had long enough
No need for any more resting

****

My
dog’s
barking
brings me peace
In his sudden noise
I find inner quiet so well

***

One
Small
untruth
is just fine
Nobody needs trust
Stop glazing authenticity

More spring break please: Some poems

poetry, Reflections on teaching, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

More Spring Break, Please: A Limerick

There once was a teacher at home
For spring break she did not roam
She did a few chores instead
watched Gilmore Girls and read
”Just one more week!” she pled.

A Teacher on Break: A Clerihew

A teacher on break
Has so much at stake
There’s only one week to fill
So instead of chores, she chills!

Short Spring Break: A Than-Bauk

I did not know
Break was so short
But, oh! It was

Last day: A Monostich

this day, this Friday, is the last day before the two day weekend, then school.

Poetry form ideas from here.

A Gaggle Perhaps?

poetry, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

Today I happened upon a large group of leaf blowers
like actual men, with leaf blowers on their backs
It was a huge pack
I don’t know if that’s what you call a large group of leaf blowers
a pack
so I look up different
collective nouns for animals
and I wonder what this group would be called

to help decide you must picture this
large group of men, with leaf blowers on their backs
clouds of decomposed leaf dust surrounding them
leaking into the street even
with the leaves not yet wrangled there in the street too
they barely slowed when I drove by
and I wondered if they would just blow the brown dust all over my car
or in it
or perhaps blow my van away
it was a very large group of leaf blowing men, so I don’t now how much power that many leaf blowers have!

I’m not sure if pack is the right term for this group
maybe
a parade, like elephants or
a flight, like insects
a school, like dolphins
Let’s remember they were singularly focused, and on my brief driving by encounter,
I did not encounter
much consideration

so maybe
a band, like gorillas
a conspiracy, like lemurs or
an army, like ants makes the most sense
certainly not
a parliament, like owls or
a charm, like finches

They startled my landscape so
I wanted to snap a picture of the gang, like elk, of these
leaf blowers
but by the time I drove by again
they had disappeared, as if never there
as if I had imagined them
like a leap of leopards
a skulk of foxes
a murder of crows
a scurry of squirrels
a deceit of lapwings
and all they left was a large pile of dead leaves and twigs
in their wake