Monday, April 11, 2016

NPM: #9

During National Poetry Month, I will attempt to write a poem a day.

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Soul Medicine

Laughter
Good for me,
Good for friends,
Good for the audience.
Good.

Laughter
With girls,
With friends,
With soul sisters,
With 4100 Jesus Girls.
Giggle.

Laughter
About friends,
About mother-in-laws,
About frizzy hair and thighs,
About moments not to be forgotten.
Cackle.

Laughter
Towards jokes,
Towards groups,
Towards spanx and skinny jeans.
Towards memories brought to surface.
Roar!

Laughter
Releasing stress,
Releasing bitterness,
Releasing negative holds,
Releasing pressures inside held.
Smile.

Laughter
Good for the soul,
Good for the future,
Good for women to share.
Laugh, we did.

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This morning, while at Women of Joy, we listened...and laughed with...a Christian comedian.  I so enjoyed my time spent with my three lady roommates and travel companions.

Friday, April 8, 2016

NPM: #8

In honor of National Poetry Month, I am attempting to write a poem a day.

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Flavors

Pumpkin Spice.
Hazelnut.
Caramel.

Coffee
Without I can abide.

But...
Pumpkin Spice,
Hazelnut,
Caramel,
in water, not the same.

Coffee
With you I do abide.

For...
Pumpkin Spice,
Hazelnut,
Caramel,
  My flavors.
  My treats.
  My rewards.
  My eye-opener.

Two sugars.
Four creamers.
Syrup.
Just a little coffee, please.


_________________________

While on the way to Branson today, I enjoyed my first coffee...ever...from McDonalds.  Yum!

Thursday, April 7, 2016

NPM: #7

In honor of National Poetry Month, I am attempting to write a poem a day.

____________________________

Preparations

Tomorrow, school I shall miss.
Preparing now.

Rosters.
Lesson plans.
Handouts.
Movie.

To work?
To engage?

No time lost...
With or without me.

Block schedule.
Two classes in one.
One hour, twenty minutes.

Evan says, "More work
Than if you are here."

Yes, a substitute before I have been.
Stress!
   Names!
   Questions!
   Free time!
   Stress!

Thus, I prepare to ensure
   Engagement.
   No loss of time.
   One hour, twenty minutes.
   Times three.

More work to prepare
   than to stay.
Go, I will, though.
Time for Tammy.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

NPM: #6

In honor of National Poetry Month, I attempt to write a poem daily.

Today's poem is dedicated to my 3B English 10 class, in particular a young man who has experienced great loss this year but has been so mature through these great adversities.   He is by no means a peeping tom...just a joke from class.

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Peeping Toms

To one who mimes,
To one who encourages,
To one who loves English not,
To one who supports his peers,
To one who misses what he once had. 

To one who earned a nickname 
For what reason I now remember not. 
To one who says his table mates do bully. 
What?
Really?

Are those smiles not real?
Do those whispered conversations secrets reveal?
What?
Really?

The teacher knows...
Yes, she is aware...
Some would prefer to...
Hunt ducks. 
Play sports 
Eat lunch.
Dig a ditch...
Than of English partake. 

Thus, when all "ai not", aka ain't's,
Removed they are. 
When all blanks, 100's become. 
When the young do teach the  29'ers again. 

Then...only then...
Will days be filled with
Movies. 
Free days. 
Free time. 
Easy A's. 

Thus, in the meantime...
Mimes continue. 
Peeps will be seen.
Secrets brought to light. 
Papers planned. 
Sentences composed. 

With a laugh here,
A snicker there
And a cup of coffee in between. 


To my very favorite 3B'ers,
Listen up!
Let's write right!




Tuesday, April 5, 2016

NPM: #5

In honor of National Poetry Month, I am attempting to write a poem a day.

Dedicated to my first great, great niece.
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Great Squared

Today, you did me the honor great
Of making several of us even greater.

Mimi now is Great Mimi.
Joe, Micah, and Melanie all one great indeed.

Janet, Joe, and myself...
Well, we are great greats.

How absolutely delightful these titles you give
Enough to share; no, not competitive.

Speaking of titles and names,
I do hear that dad has upon you
Already a nickname bestowed.
Girlfriend, these endearments have only just begun.

Your namesake, between me and thee,
Raelynn...
That name I spoke much in high school.
A friend of mine, oh, so cool,
Too shared your name.

Just a moment on Lynn we should focus.
Without a doubt a plus,
For I, too, share that name.
Raelynn.
Tammy Lynn.

One more title you should know.
I. Am. A. Baby. Whisperer.
Just breathe those wants out.
Through coos, never should you doubt,
My ears shall perk, ever alert,
To share you needs and wants.
First pacifiers, rattlers, and baby dolls,
Though none so pretty as you.

One more title we should discuss.
Jesus dearly loves His children.
Yes, He loves you,
So today you made Him happy,
For with that first breath you took,
He, too, upon you did look.

While you may not yet know,
You are one blessed little girl,
For today, you set many hearts a whirl.

Those other names not mentioned?
They are going to love you much.
Go ahead and let them spoil you,
For this you do deserve,
For nine months of working to arrive,
That, my dear, deserves some sweet high fives.

Again, thanks for making me great squared.
Please know I am prepared
To wear my new name with a flair,
For this I do declare...
That being Great Great Aunt Tammy is
An honor, a moment full of bliss.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Today Was a Monday

Today, I heard...
"I read the entire play [Macbeth] this weekend." I had yet to assign it. Oh. My. Goodness. Love that girl!
"I have my essay written. Just need to type it." I had assigned this one...better late and the grade reflect what he CAN do than what he just did not want to do. Yes.
"It's okay. We're friends, Mrs. Gillmore." Yes...yes, we are...even when I have to ask you to be quiet for the fifth time.
"Yes, mom." This from a "son" of mine whose mom loans him out to us during the day.
"Have you ordered that book?" This from another "son," who once was too proud to say he doesn't read...but finally found the author for him. Got to get that book ordered!
Some days are just a Monday. Hope yours was as good as mine.

NPM: #4

Throughout the month of April, I will attempt to write a poem a day for National Poetry Month.
_________________________
Dedicated to Making Choices Bible Study Group.

Jesus Girls

Two hours.
Eight ladies
One Bible Study.

Adds up to...

Stories shared.
Tears tapped.
Prayers prayed.
Hearts healed.

Just in one gathering,
Where nerves came clamoring.
Where stories told secure within those walls,
Where time to talk, to seek tidbits of wisdom,
Where two listen, four formulate responses, two cry,
Or did all eight?
Where heads bow, in the now quiet, hushed peace,
For more than two or three gathered,
For He was there.

For me, a prayer answered.
Prayed two years ago
For girls that are friends.
For friends that are girls.

He answers in His Timing.
He answers in His Way.
He always answers.
Always.

Always, He answers.


Sunday, April 3, 2016

NPM: #3

To Believe or Not

Walking. 
Dead. 

Alive. 
Will be dead?

Brave?
Stupid?

Mockingbird?

Trapped?

Really?  
Will the season end this way?

Stop the whistling!

I wait. 
Fifteen more minutes. 

Have a theory. 
Carol is right. 
Just move into eternity. 

Wait!
This is fiction. 
This. Is. Not. Real. 
No. 

But...
Why does this feel real?
In a fiction kind of way, that is. 

Just thankful for my WD cohorts. 
You know who you are. 

Where are the good guys?
Where are the knights in shining armor?
You may show up. Anytime now. 

Not cool. 

Eight minutes. 

Rick works for his family 
Family. 
Unite. 

Do. Not. Make. Us. Wait.  Until. October. 

End this now. 

The worst finale ever. 







Saturday, April 2, 2016

NPM: Day 2

Throughout the month of April, I will attempt to write a poem a day for National Poetry Month.
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One Hour

Today, I gave an hour. 
Of blessings He did shower. 

The Blue Van and friend Katie
Around the neighborhood visits we did make. 

Doors unanswered. 
Doors opened. 

Planting a seed.
Cultivating with care. 
Gleaning His Harvest. 

Four agreed
With us tomorrow to accompany
To His House to meet. 
Souls rejoice, upbeat. 

The Blue Van and my friend Katie,
We all agreed
More driving up and down those streets. 
Finding one more, two, three.  

Thank you, dear Lord,
For giving us this opportunity more. 
We ask you to utilize us. 
For as You would, this we must
To go into the streets, this our harvest field. 
May we continue to yield. 

Fill us with Your Desires. 
Then and only then will Your Perfect Will transpire. 

Guide us to the doors that will open,
For in You, we are hoping
That one more will worship you 
As we did
Today
For one hour. 

Lord, give us one more hour. 
And another 
To work for you. 

Amen. 

Friday, April 1, 2016

National Poetry Month: Day 1

The Look So Bleak

Riding along,
Minding my own business,
Or so one would think,

A tidbit of knowledge
I did let leak.

Word
by
word
The look began to form.

"Your dad thinks
Tonight you should stay
HOME
and not go out
with The Boy."

We rolled along.
No comment.

"What do you think?"
I asked, in that voice so meek.

A long pause.
A response her brain did seek.

Focused I remain
on that phone screen,
definitely tongue in cheek.

"Okay.  I guess."

This girl.
To hurt her,
I cannot,
So
I
Speak,

"April Fool's."

"Mom!"

To her, I take a peek.
Appreciating my technique.

Smiles.

A great way to end this workweek,
This day,
April 1, 2016.

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National Poetry Month has arrived!  Yay!  While perusing online, I came across this Poem a Day Challenge.  Today's prompt:  write a foolish poem...in honor of April Fool's Day.

Enjoy!