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Friday, June 15, 2012

POETRY FRIDAY

This is kind of a bittersweet summer. My eighteen-year-old is leaving in just a few weeks to go to school/play football in Phoenix, which is 900 miles from here. My seventeen-year-old is just a year behind. And I'm not sure I'm ready to see my babies leave the nest. As hard as it is, I really like being a mom. I'm having a hard time envisioning what the next chapter-- without football games, and homework hassles, and "where are you?" texts is going to look like…

In January, I chose my word for this year. I wanted a word that would remind me to slow down, and pay attention, and just really enjoy these last few months I have with my boys.  The word I chose was "savor." I came across this poem by Nikki Giovanni at a Common Core Standards workshop this week. Thought it fit my theme, and this time of year perfectly.

"Knoxville, Tennessee"
by Nikki Giovanni

I always like summer
best
you can eat fresh corn
from daddy's garden
and okra
and greens
and cabbage
and lots of
barbecue
and buttermilk
and homemade ice-cream
at the church picnic…


Read the rest of the poem here.

Mary Lee is hosting Poetry Friday at Year of Reading. 
Savor today!
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7 comments:

  1. Donna SmithJune 15, 2012 at 9:37 AM

    Loved
    "And be warm
    All the time
    Not only when you go to bed
    And sleep"
    That was a great picture of summertime savoring!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mary LeeJune 15, 2012 at 11:42 AM

    Yummy. And perfect for your theme!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Linda BJune 15, 2012 at 12:24 PM

    That savoring of those moments, that's what is real, is good. You've found just the right one, Carol. We wouldn't want it any other way, but it is hard when the kids leave, I know. It's a blessing that you are aware & doing all that savoring. Thanks for this. Nikki Giovanni does it so beautifully.

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  4. TabathaJune 15, 2012 at 2:14 PM

    Sending you a cyberhug, Carol! You picked a delicious poem to go with your theme.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tara @ A Teaching LifeJune 15, 2012 at 8:24 PM

    And be warm
    All the time
    Not only when you go to bed
    And sleep

    That's love...whether it's sleeping in the room next door or in a dorm 900 miles away.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Andromeda JazmonJune 16, 2012 at 6:16 AM

    I am with you - savoring every moment with my boys. My youngest is just finished with first grade and I am sad to be leaving that stage. But the middle childhood years are delicious too so I am hanging on...

    ReplyDelete
  7. rena traxelJune 18, 2012 at 12:26 AM

    I love summer especially when I get to walk around my yard barefoot.

    ReplyDelete