Fire raging behind and beside
………………………..A cliff before
………………………Nothing to do
……………………………………..but
.
.
………………………………………………leap.
.
.
poem-risky June 2, 2016
Life is risky.
If we dare to try,
we may fail.
If we ride out onto new roads,
we may crash,
If we set sail on new waters,
we may drown,
but
If we hide beneath a rock,
we’re in danger of being crushed.
Moving is better,
than standing still.
poem-fear June 1, 2016
That explains everything, doesn’t it?
You’re afraid.
You’re so afraid of someone’s opinions
that you won’t risk anything.
You’re afraid you’re not perfect,
that you’ll make a mistake,
that someone will laugh at you.
All of this failure to complete your work
to present to the class,
to hand in an assignment
is all because you’re so concerned about image
you’ve turned yourself into a failure.
THAT was the image you wanted for yourself?
Really?
Life is a series of risks, of mistakes, of rough drafts,
of trying, and failing, and working and succeeding.
Are you so critical of others that you think everyone
is that critical of you?
In this time of social media,
confidence is your power.
My dog was happy and friendly. After he was attacked, he became fear aggressive.
He growled when other dogs came near, lunging at them.
He built a wall. He’d learned he had to defend himself.
It took a trainer with care and many friendly dogs to teach him to feel safe again.
I wonder what it will take,
for all of you?
.
.
.
.
Interesting conversation before my class today as we discussed students who refuse to present to the class. A new teacher was asking what to do about this situation. My student over-heard the conversation and said that if there’s someone who doesn’t like you in the class, they’ll be judgmental. She said No one wants to be judged. So- It doesn’t matter it’s a life skill. It doesn’t matter that not being liked by the odd person is normal. I was told, “We’re afraid” and that was the end of it. It is unfair of teachers to expect them to try things that are difficult because they learn and grow that way, and they just want to stay as they are.
poem-moment May 31, 2016
One moment,
red filled,
changes everything.
.
.
.
(Reading S. E. Hinton’s Outsiders with my class today, and ch. 4 definitely has a red-filled moment that changes everything…).
poem-crushing May 30, 2016
Words you knew not to say
you said.
Though you prefaced with
‘you’re not going to like this,’
you said them anyway.
You knew those words had venom,
that would poison her heart,
you said them.
And you watch the poison take her
ooze out through tears of
hurt,
doubt,
rejection.
You pretend your purpose was care,
but caring is never deliberately cruel,
caring steps gently amid sensitivity,
caring builds supports to encourage.
In your mouth you have an anti-venom,
but you are silent,
contentedly watching the destruction
of the crushed spirit turning black
from the poison of
your words.
Moving farther from your affection
every moment you wait.
poem-grace May 29, 2016
Gifts
of kindness,
listening ear,
patience.
She has grace,
amid what some exclaim disgrace.
poem-reflect May 28, 2016
We need room.
We need space to stretch.
We need time to consider.
Flashes of inspiration are well and good,
but reflection needs room for rumination.
poem- rain May 27, 2016
We’re raining
damp permeates bones
sky slides claustrophobically close
Grey day
poem-efficient May 26, 2016
Team play
race around
Think
Think
Money reward
Run faster
If it’s fun
can it really be
learning?
.
.
.
(Yes. Of course) 🙂
poem- broken May 25, 2016
If the broken pieces
didn’t blind him,
cripple him,
impale him,
perhaps he’d be free
to see her pain.
And seeing, to embrace it,
tame it, and more–
for her to show him
what she knows,
that slivers can be pulled,
that slats can be hammered,
that broken pieces can grow into crutches,
that the cracks of fractures
can be patched into a quilt
for a bed of nails.
Oh, he is broken, but
Comfort is where you find it.
Shawn L. Bird 