NaPoWrMo #33: Everyday reality and memories

Posters I have up in my classroom

 Thinking about snapshots of my school life as a teacher lately, and then other memories from my past that are just a weak distant memory. It is  all way too long ago for me to remember most of it. My high school experience is so different from me teaching in public school right now. I try to combine these thoughts into a poem tonight.

A Wiff of High School 

A knock, knock joke that keeps revolving

Relationships of he-said-she-said, so, involving

Fire alarms blaring in the middle of a lesson

What made it go off anybody’s guess is

The questions about directions,

Are they sincere or just deflections?

Troubled minds with more than one should carry

Whispering secrets that are rather scary

Laughter rings through the halls

As friends banter with a whoop and call

Recognition of who is out and who is in

Sometimes it makes everyone’s heads spin

It is a place that leaves a mark

It can be a mixture of light and dark

As a teacher, I am mostly an observer,

Leading my students with valiant fervor

Wishing them the best years are before them

That they can keep at least one good gem

Which they will shine, but not put in a shrine

Taking it out from time to time

Gazing into the magnificence of youth

Strengths of learning about their own self-truth

What is, was, and could be

Studying how they were or decided to flee

My high school graduation

Who they were with or didn’t get to know

The family of origin or who they chose

“Who’s there?” you ask

Core memories from the past

NaPoWriMo #32 (I think): A Sonnet

I had a really dreadful day at work, and so I came home and threw myself into finishing the sonnet I had begun. Here it is in all its glory. I think it makes sense, but hopefully not too painfully clever, and following the form still. Written to my forever love, Martin.

 

Sonnet 32: Time’s Island

I gaze contentedly at your face tonight

The lines drawn from our life in the stormy sea

Your visage set determinedly like bainite

Exposes your thoughts for and against me

Honeyed words that slide past my defenses

Dazzled and drawn, nothing keeps me at bay

A rumba rhythm pulses, our dance commences

Swirls create swells, an imposing display

Your hand brushes the curl away from my face

My finger traces crinkles in your sides

Our hands intertwined, come home to abide

The wind upwelling cooling down our boil

Thwarting storm’s fate, our strings ever entoiled

 

NaPoWrMo #29: For Dave

 Yesterday was full as my husband and I did music for a dear friend’s memorial service. Sometimes that pushes me to write, and sometimes it is too much. Yesterday was too much. I hope to finish a sonnet by the end of the month; I’m halfway through it. My little phone camera doesn't do the painting by Dave justice, and the poem about him is clunkier than I’d like it to be, as it does not do our friend justice, but here is a poem about our friend. Rest in peace, Dave.

 

Dave’s Portrait

Washed bright by color

You were like no other

Your gentle smile and manner

Were equal only to your candor

An easy laugh that tripped along

A forgiving song helping others to belong

You were a coach, a husband, a teacher, a father,

Curious about people who were never a bother,

You saw inside that was brought out in your art,

Guided by your Saviour’s heart,

I will miss your kindness

But I am happy you now experience bliss

Out of pain

Not having to strain

You are forever home,

Painting in shalom

Moon Bridge, Kubota Gardens, Seattle 

NaPoWrMo #25-28: A quartet of haiku

 I still don’t have the sonnet done, as it takes more thought and planning than some of my poetry attempts. I was over to my dear friend’s house tonight and yawning after a while, and she suggested just posting a haiku or two tonight. Clever idea, as I am bushed here at the end of the week. So, a quartet of haiku that encapsulates some moments in our evening.

 

Sweet Ones

Good friends faces at home

A friendly dog herds small boy

This memory binds us

 

Devil Among Us

One never knows one

Who might not be who they seem

Forward face is false

 

Foundational Forts

Girl speaks from woman

Sparkle talk of pillow forts

Waves goodbye in rush

 

Licorice Soldiers

Warm wallflowers silent guards

Standing witness to cool green

Fire ring of peace 

                                                                     

 

NaPoWrMo: Happy Earth Day!!!

This isn't the tree from my poem, but I didn't think to take a picture of it in the streetlamp tonight, but this is the right species and color.

Ode to a Parking Lot Redbud

Oh, the redbud tree

I walk by you daily

Rushing from my car

Into school and barely

Seeing the changes

Until you unfurl your buds

Fusha bright bursts

Like pink popcorn

Drenched in candy's bright coating

That says, “Look at me!”

I want to stare into

Your color and laugh

The streetlamp above

Sets your hair to be

Like warm slow fire

With highlights dancing

Lifted by wind and misty rain

Your visual shivers of mirth

As the cold spring rain

Drenches your blooms

And you shake your head

Defiant in the spotlight

Performing your tender dance

Throughout the night

NaPoWriMo #21 & 22: Something old and something older as nothing is really new

 Last night I read through journals and found an old poem I wrote back in 2013, also about the Emmaus Road as that part of scripture has oft captured my imagination. I added a few new lines to it as it seemed unfinished. I'll post it underneath tonight's original poem on this page. Thinking of Tommy tonight, this coming June will have been 20 years since he’s been gone. I cannot believe it.

 Y? Because He Loves You

He has such a sweet face

If people see him in my office

They think I must be a fan

But no, he sits there

Because he was a gift

I came home to him

Sitting on my bed

Smiling up at me

I squealed with glee

Not because of him

But because you had

Thought of me

Given me this

Childish gift

I was a child

A teen but to you

Who was my very much older brother

And you knew so little of my taste

Except that I liked

Soft cherubic supercilious

Companions that covered my bed

This famous mouse

I did not have one thing

That had his portrait

But I cling to him now

For you are long gone

And he still sits

Reminding me

That you did think

About me enough

To give me something

That would put a smile on my face

As he whispers how much

My brother loved me

That is what I think of

When I see him now

I see you laughing

At this adorable mouse

And how you knew I would

Love him and you for

Surprising me

By leaving him

As that message

that you loved me too

______________________________________

The Emmaus Road Well Traveled 4/10/2013

Shadows of the past sung in the present

I hear choirs of field workers

treading the muddy paths

Doves fly near, swooping and swirling

training our hearts

Our loving God listens

every day moments

deeply and passionately loved

We belong to him

We are his

He walks behind, beside, and before us

He listens as we rage

not noticing as he gently pulls ahead

to walk up the stone-filled pathway

 until we try with all our strength 

not to slip on stones rolling beneath our feet

My hand flies up and out 

grasping for some sort of balance

only to be met by 

the strong grasp above me

pulling me up 

to stand at the top of that hill

And I offer my hand to you

as we cast our eyes

where we've been

and where we are headed

He waits until we are ready

to move on

hearing his story anew

NaPoWriMo #20: Something to say about the road to Emmaus

 My Story of Emmaus

Minding my own business

I wonder what that is

As someone drops in rhythm

Beside me, matching step for step

No profound words

Just a strong presence

Holding me firm

To keep on the path

Moving forward

Steady on

Raising my eyes

To what surrounds me

And take in the amazing view

How it is changing

Season by season

Chapter by chapter

Names rushing by at such speed

I can’t remember

Who was the one who

Put me on this

Tripterous trail

Yet you are there

With every etymological discovery

That digs into each origin

That splits me into multiple

Spaces that hold

More than I will ever know

You hold my hand

As we saunter

Down this bumpy pathway

Making sure I will not fall

Or turn my ankle on a small stone

If I do, you wrap it and tell me

To stop and rest

Breathe through the pain

Watch the healing begin

I complain, and you soothe

You wait with me

A stumble, a spill, a plunge

You pick me up and patch

Whatever needs mending

Till we can journey on

Break bread together

Where I recognize

My companion

Is my savior

That has fed me

Every step of the way