Senior Seminar Board - Yikes and Yay!

This year, our department reinstated the Senior Seminar Board...a very good decison...one that requires much work and much diligence in adhering to the schedule, for once the days the board will arrive are set, all documents have a hard deadline!

The seniors are meeting this deadline...and showing up and showing out, professionally, that is!  I am so very proud to them!

In their honors...and because this is National Poetry Month, below is my poem dedicated to them and this event:

College and Career Ready

Day by day, the teacher did assign,
Choosing the lessons to align,
To ensure her students the school motto met.
Her students' skills gained an asset.

College and career ready, they say.
You can do this, she did parlay.
To often, their achievements underplayed.
Not here, though, their futures an extended highway.

Each assigned.
Each accomplished.
A resume.
A paper.
A speech outline.
A Google presentation.
Dressed up for their oration.

All heroes and herones on these speaking days
As heart rates speeded, running many verbal relays.
Shaking knees and shaking hands,
Prepared to reach the bar, their teacher understands.

Proud they are, breathing silent sighs of relief.
Mental high-fives, huge smiles signifying belief.
Forget all the moans.  Forget all the groans.
Forget all the "I can't's."  Forget all the work zones.

Today, they came.
Today, they spoke.
Today, they answered.
Today, they "Thank you"ed.
Today, they proved "College and Career Ready."

So proud she is, this teacher of theirs.
In these proud moments, she shares.
She thinks they can.
She knows they can.
They prove they can.

I think I can.  I think I can.  I think I can.

Simply became.

I can.

I am.

College and Career Ready.

NPM - Poems 6-11

I sure hopes this find you writing, creating, singing, drafting poetry throughout this month of April.

I am!

For the sake of time...which seems to in short supply!...may I provide the links to poems 6-11 where these literary creations reside?

• Day 6:  "The Necessary Tool" - about online conference calls
• Day 7:  "The Sisterhood" - to and about the ATNBC officers/board
• Day 8:  "Happily Ever After" - a "real" fairy tale about a Queen...and her King
• Day 9:  "The Outer Dead" - a tribute to seeds
• Day 10:  "Three Saved" - thoughts on the importance of giving blood
• Day 11:  "The Shortest Song" - a jingle I use as a cue to get to work!
• Today:  not written yet, but I know the topic, for today, my Beta Club will host a Mini-Relay for Life Walk to increase awareness about the type of cancers.  Those walks are just so powerful.  I can already hear the words coming to me!

So, I wonder...

• Where do you write?
• From where do you ideas arrive?
• What is your poetic style?
• Do the words spill forth...or come slowly...one by one?

As for me...

I write in my comfy chair about events that happen that day.  My style?  That all depends on how fast the words upchuck!  Sometimes, I slow that poem down...with just one word...and spacing...creating a pause, for, otherwise, I might not breathe!

I do hope you are taking advantage of the month and writing at least one.  That accomplishment just feels good during this month of April!

REMINDER!  Not too late to join my poetry challenge!  Right here!

NPM - Poem 6 - The Necessary Tools

The Necessary Tools

Gathered around a screen.
Supplies nearby...
Calendar.
Pen.
Phone.
Sticky notes.
Notepad.

Ready.

Gathered around a screen.
One by one the voices arrive.
The faces appear.

"You there?"
"I can see you, but I can't hear you."
"Hello!"
"I'm in my car."

Text messages begin.
"Password needed?"
"Be right there.  I'm running late.  Again!"

Greetings aside,
Business begins.
Decisions to make.
Ideas outbreak.
Traditions to forsake.
Questions to debate.
Awards uptake.
Conference to partake.

Ready?

Sitting in the parking lot.
Under that big light.
Internet connection sought.
There, brains connect to our delight.

Typing.
Scribbling.
Scrolling.

Time flies
15 minutes
30 minutes
45 minutes
An hour...already?

Yes, ready we are,
For, once again,
Technology stars.
There, the group discovered "I can."

I can meet.
I can plan.
I can question.
I can acquisition.
I can coordinate.
I can acclimate.
I just can.

Time for goodbyes.
"It's been great."
"Love talking to you all."
"Until next time."
"Shall we set a date?"

Gathered around a screen.
Connected by a phone.
Bonded with friendship and these machines.
Established there in that work zone.

Thank you, Mr. Internet and Ms. Air Waves.
Our lives too busy; time just saved.
Thank you...this evening you connected...
Friends.
Peers.
Leaders.
Decision makers.
Sisters.
Family
Conference partakers.

Just that simple, you see.
A conference call turns into The Conference.
All planned...just for thee.

NPM - Poem 5 - Just a Second...or Two

Just a Second...or Two

Time is short.
Time is not mine.
Time thwarted.
Time is kind...just not mine.

Wish this could me longer.
But, time...just too demanding.

See you...yes, next time!

NPM - Poem 4: Our Love Grows

Our Love Grows

He came to us a 1.7 pounds, shy and small.

He grew.

He came to us with a voice, insistent and loud.

He grew.

He came to us untrained, frequent and inconsistent.

He grew.

He came to us with senses asleep, self-absorbed and focused.

He grew.

He came to us with full of love, wiggling and twisting.

He grew.

He came to us and grew and grew.

Now, he knows

No.
Treat?
Kaiser!

He came to us learning.

Tammy is Alpha Queen.
Jay is Alpha King.
Holly is Alpha Princess.

Where does this leave Kaiser?

Alpha Dog!

Lover of the inside.
Lover of running like a herd of horses.
Lover of "Holly's home!"

Forever changed we are,
For Kaiser adopted us.
We are his people.
To him we are equal.

Go, Kaiser!
Run, run, run!

Go, Kaiser!
Out, out, out!

Go, Kaiser!
You, dog!  You messed again!?

Go, Kaiser!
I am so glad you joined our family.

Go, Kaiser!

NPM - Poem 3: Mother Nature's Letter

Mother Nature's Letter

Today, 76.
Tonight, 33.
Tomorrow, 54.

Today, windy.
Tonight, stormy.
Tomorrow, sunny.

From this, please allow me to explain,
I rule.
You do not.

Conquer me you have sought,
Your human strengths you brought,
Swimming in my currents.
Climbing my mountains.
Chasing my storms.
Flying from my peaks.
Braving my winds.

For some, I encourage
Your endeavors to flourish.

For some, I decline
Your eternity just defined.

Some say I am
a beast,
a protector,
a formidable foe,
a marvelous mother.
a friend to embrace and enjoy.

I say I am
created,
utilized,
activated,
increased,
decreased,
multiplied,
verified.

For He who made all
Made me at His Call.

My power is not my own.
My power is not yours to own.
At His beck and call, I simply am,
Said the Great I Am.

Blame me if you must.
But
He who made you
Made me from that same dust.

Enjoy me.
Spend time with me.
Be friendly to me.
Rejoice in all that I am.

Yes, friends lets be
spending time together,
in all kinds of weather,
respecting me through my various moods,
yielding to my multiple attitudes,
loving me,
hating me,
enjoying me,
yet always respecting me.

Sincerely,

Mother Nature

NPM - Poem 2: Book Clubs

Book Clubs

Gathered - with friends, some near, some far.
Gathered - with peers, some new, some aging stars.
Gathered - with characters, some adoptable, some not.
Gathered - with foes, some conquered, some detained.
Gathered - with loves, some lost, some gained.

Around - tables, knees nearly touching.
Around - computers, fingers quickly typing.
Around - questions, diving into the nuggets.
Around - answers, securing needed knowledge.
Around - coffee, meals, feeding us as these literary creations astonish.

Books - our friends.
Books - our dreams.
Books - our journeys.
Books - our destination.
Books - more than a collection.

Gathered around books.

National Poetry Month: Oh, the Challenge

Today, welcomes National Poetry Month (as well, as Easter and April Fool's Day...but not fooling here!)  Serious we are about filling these blank canvas posts this month with poetic creations.

This, the Epic for me!   Also, posted at TG Book Thoughts.
________________________

Oh, the Challenge

Once a year, for 31 days,
creative juices blaze,
as word by word,
line by line,
a literary creation amazes.

This year, the epic.
A poem a day, creating such aesthetic
Images, appeals, memories, nothing generic.
Creations so unique,
Making here and there a tweak
Until draft becomes final.

Ideas sparked day by day.
To the brain they do convey.
Continuing to nag,
Treating that gray matter, much like a punching bag,
Until...until fingers meet keyboard,
Words no longer to horde.

Challenges issued.
The Epic.
The Sonnet.
The Limerick.
The Haiku.

Choose your challenge.
Join the fun!
The words you do so manage.
By signing up below,
Prepare for the overflow
Of words, one by one,
Of lines, not to be outdone,
Of stanzas, of lines stacked.
Excited for your soon to be impact.

Here's to a month of poems,
Whether 21, 14, five, or three.
All beginning now you see.

Welcome to National Poetry Month!