POETRY FRIDAY/SLICE OF LIFE #2

Today is Friday.
And that means Poetry.
Poetry Friday.

I usually participate.

But this month I am "slicing" 

I probably won't have time to do both

So I am combining them.

Lots of Poetry Friday bloggers write poetry every week.
I usually just find a poem I like.

Dash off a quick explanation of why it's speaking to me.
Post.
And race off to my day. 

But I actually do write poetry. 

Or something that is kind of like poetry anyway. 

I often take experiences that I want to hold onto. 

Throw in a few line breaks or stanzas. 

Sometimes I play around with a little repetition. 

I do the same thing

with quotes I want to think about

or scripture that's speaking to me.

Somehow
shaping 

those thoughts

experiences

words

helps me to savor

ponder

dwell deeply

remember

Here is one from this week.

******************************

Tuesday afternoon

Grade level meetings.

This afternoon we are supposed to meet with our AP

To review final details

for our upcoming weeks of testing.

A supervisor from the district office 

has dropped by

to meet with the AP

And so we sit

waiting

on the shiny wooden “bad kids” bench.

Outside the AP's office.

David,
 our principal,
joins our row

of non-sinning

sitters.

After a few minutes

We decide to start our meeting.

It’s hard to meet

sitting in a row

On the bad kids’ bench

So I move to the floor in front of the bench.

And sit facing my teammates.

David joins me

in the executives meeting area.

Elizabeth, a five-year-old angel

from the autism magnet

comes out into the hall,

With her para, Robert,

(he a 19-year-old kid,

with patience and kindness and wisdom

easily quadruple his age).

 They pass us on the way to the restroom.

Five minutes later

They return.

Elizabeth stops.

mesmerized

by the way the fluorescent lights 

reflect

in a glowing square

Off David’s bald head.

  

Elizabeth’s hands

Fly to that glowing square

She rubs round and round

Chortling gleefully

In a language

we of this earth

do not recognize.

Robert

is horrified

At this breach of authority.

Five-year-olds

do not rub

the principal’s head

even

when 

the light is so shiny.

He moves to grab her hands

And pull her away.

David laughs.

And says to Elizabeth

“It’s shiny isn’t it?”

And we continue meeting.


"Poetry Friday" is at Dori Reads today.

"Slice of Life" is at Two Writing Teachers.