A Poem for Days When Things Never Go Right

Backwards blues.
Sideways secrets.
Moments escaping the grip of my hands.

Lists that go unchecked.
Attitudes that steamroll.
Loud crashes that deaden.

Lost minutes, lost hours, lost days.
Picture myself wandering in circles
focusing on all the wrong things.

Mind closed. Mouth hanging open.
Wrong thoughts. Wrong words.

but, it's a bad day,
not a bad life.
Try again.

A Letter to Throw into the Ocean

Dear Death,

You're my biggest fear. I want to tell you why.

We can't escape you. We can act as if we are better, and you don't bother us. But, it's a lie. You're always there.

Things are so happy, so rosy, so good, and I'm scared for the bad. I'm not saying that I walk around with sunshine following me and flowers blooming as I step about. No, things aren't Mary Poppins cheer-y, but they are happy. At least to me, as my happiness isn't the same as another's. But, life happens. And, it's not all good. And, it's naive for me to pretend it is, or will be, but I want it to be.

Death, you took away my mother. A beautiful woman stolen from me and my family. You took with you memories that will never exist, and smiles that will never be seen. It was so tough, and tears fell, and still do.  But, almost ten years later -- the sadness isn't as deep or heavy as it once was.

What frightens me now is losing more.

I look around and I am surrounded by love. I see love personified into so many beings. But that can't last.
Death must happen. What if I lost him? Or her? Or both? Or more? And, in the end, don't we lose them all?

I know that pain, I've felt that pain, and I don't want to feel it again.
I have no comfort. I know no way to stop you. You are always there.

Death, please go away. Don't hurt me.

Stay away,
me

A Poem To Carry With You

You know the expression, life is hard.
Well, it's true.
But, here's the deal...
Don't make it harder than it needs to be.

Be confidant.
You are strong and proud.
Show it.

Be Loud.
You have a voice.
Share it.

Be Kind.
Others need love.
Give it.

The world can be hard,
but it is a beautiful place.
Find magic in moments.
Be true to yourself.
Live.
Celebrate.
Enoy it.

Introduction Poem

Silent heads bent over the desk.

Pencils gripped firmly in bony hands

while etching on

stark white paper with thin blue veins.

The pencil falls silently to the page.

The words gush, tumble, scream out to the page.

The thoughts clutter and fight their way to the page.

The ideas shudder to life and exist for the moment.

Then a pause, before it starts again.

This pattern continues

day after day

week after week

month after month

and every day, new pencils, new papers, new words, new thoughts, new discoveries.

And, I, as their teacher, howl and delight in what I see

These students, they inspire me.