NPM: Poem 25

In honor of National Poetry Month, I am attempting to write a poem a day.  This poem...the topic...not so fun...


Just One More Day

Life taken by self.
Time just could not wait.
Emotions arise in ourselves.
Memories will not abate.

The day after...
Full of...
Sunshine,
Spring,
Life.

Oh, to have waited
Just one more day.
Hope to be stated,
Life's reasons to portray.

Oh, to have waited
Just one more day...
Would we have listened
Or the inevitable simply delayed?

A reminder to all,
To pause,
To listen to mind's call
To remind of probable cause
To wait, to pray, to make a difference.

Oh, to have waited...
Just one more day...

RIP Resource Officer John Carroll,
He always cared.
He always paused.
A model to our children, our students.

Thank you.

Oh, to have waited...
Just one more day.

An Author Opportunity

Thanks to my friend Rose, I appreciated the time spent with book lovers and writers this past weekend.  Fun!

Arkansas's Harding University and Dr. Ken Stamatis host four author weekends a year, bring young adult authors to our state, creating a hiatus for teachers and lovers of the written word.  Each seemed to enjoy getting to know Roland Smith, author of novels and non-fiction that seem to particularly appeal to males.

While I do not remember reading any of his works, I do now owned two signed novels:  Peak and IQ.

I especially appreciated his discussing the amount of prewriting that goes into writing a novel, all the research that must be conducted, the immersion into a topic.  He then reiterated the intensity of the revising and editing process.  This, I hope to share with my students who seem to quick to draft and print, often totaling skipping these vital steps.

Check out these authors on the 2015-2016 Young Adult Authors Weekend:

1. Katherine Paterson:  Bridge to Terabithia (need I say more?!)
2. Deborah Wiles:  Revolution, Countdown
3. Kwame Alexander:  Crossover
4. TBA

Now, imagine being able to take young adults to meet and listen to these authors!  That's my dream...to take two students per session, two that are involved in our student book club. I have a dream...to write a grant and receive the funds to make this happen.  I hope.  I dream.  I will write.

Now, I read...the weekend has arrived, my papers are graded, time for well-deserved reading time!

Happy weekend!

NPM: Poem 24

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

Hard Lessons

Today, The Girl was fired.
For her misdeeds?
Or revenge?

Face to face,
I listened
To reasons, to rationale.

My teaching motto always:
Be firm.
Be fair.
Be consistent.

The standard:
No bullying.
No lying.

Today, The Girl was fired.
Not for her misdeeds.
For standards I hold too high
For some who cannot, will not reach.

Just let me say, for in the South we do,
"Bless her heart," for with these words,
tacking on other truths, allowed they are.

No?

Probably, no.

In the South,
today,
I must say,
to keep from saying
too much,
Lord, please, just bless her heart.
You will have to bless,
For my wrath must decrease.

Hurt The Girl.
Hurt me.

That revenge?
Stemming from?
My words.
Truthful.
Harsh.

Today, my girl was fired.
Lord, You, please, bless both of their hearts.
The revenger...the young one.

Two hurting.
Mom and Daughter.

Recover we will.
Hard lessons.
Learned.

NPM: Poem 23

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

Senior Seminar Board

So proud of each and every one.
Planning, practicing, presenting,
To peers, teachers, and community persons.

Three weeks of planning:
Resume.
Essay.
Outline.
PowerPoint.

A weekend of practicing.
Mirror, Mirror on the wall,
Checking time and standing tall.
Time constraints,
Word choice must be precise.

Four days of presenting.
Ten sections do represent,
Their perspectives,
All based on evidence.
Dressed to the nines
Their images redefined.

Planning.
Practicing.
Presenting.

The sighs.
The relief.
The excitement.

Each spoke to the board, not bored.
They are proud.
I am proud.

Today, complete.
Senior Seminar Board 2015.

NPM: Poem 17

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

Mission Accomplished

Assignments assigned.
Deadlines changed.
Inbox begins to fill.
What's the deal?

Essay where?
For Inbox, not there.

Much nashing and whaling,
Much dialing and explaining.
That Inbox?
Yes, beginning to fill.

Mrs. G, she's so tough,
Too hard.
"What?!  I'm a senior,
Coasting I should be."

Unfortunately, senior year
Philosophies do clash.

That Inbox?
Full.

Expectations met.
Philosophy accept.
Mission 2015
Will be accomplished.

NPM: Poem 16

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

How Do You Do What You Do?

How do I do what I do?
Let me tell you...
all because of you and you and you!

I so wish you knew
What motivation you inspire,
even as you inquire.

Let me tell you how I do what do...
because of family: husband and daughter.
As athletes need spotters,
So they support me
With love so strong, ears that often long
For change of topic...yet patiently they endure.
My projects, my ideas, they reassure.

Let me tell you more...
This drive spurred on by friends:
Brenda, Donna, Crystal,
With ideas and dreams entrusted,
We decorate, season by season,
Spurred on by one true reason,
One soul to win, one seed to plant,
Fun, food, and fellowship.

Let me tell you more...
This drive spurred by on by friends:
Rose, Joyce, Glenda, Brenda M,
As off to women's conferences attending,
As the Lord our souls mending.
Learning, singing, worshiping.

Let me tell you more...
This drive spurred on by friends:
Katie, Pastor Kenny, Lisa, Zelpha...and more...
Teaching, leading, defending,
Learning, growing, extending.
Again, one goal:
A soul, a seed,
Even if just one.

Let me tell you more...
This drive spurred on by peers:
Amanda, Justin, Kathy, JimBob...and so many more...
Who, every day, through highs and lows,
Who, every day, through losses and gains,
We teach and grow and inspire and..
Sometimes, tough love just demands
That we teach and grow and inspire.

Let me tell you more...
This drive spurred on by siblings dear:
Judy, Janet, and Joe,
Encouraging, praying for me they expound
As their love does mound.
Asking I do less; proud when I do more.

May I tell you why I do what I do?
I am wife, mother, teacher, friend, sister.
I do because that is just who I am.

NPM: Poem 15

In celebration of National Poetry Month, I am attempting to write a poem a day.  Fun!

Pink Roses

So delicate in color and fragrance,
So pretty petal on petal,
So perfect for the deliverer delivered.

Little did she know that these brought peace
In the midst of the storm.
Little did she know that Powers beyond her,
That gentle tugging of the spirit
To which she responded,
That was the calming of today's storm.

This morning, I asked for peace in the upcoming storm.
This afternoon, peace arrived
In color and fragrance,
Petal on petal,
For the Deliverer delivered.

Today, He used my girl,
Who responded with then quietness in her own way,
For there they lay.
The sign,
The symbol,
The answer.

Sometimes, He calms the storm.
Sometimes, He calms me.