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Friday, December 28, 2018

POETRY FRIDAY

Photo from Wikimedia Commons (1916)
The young teachers at school hold me up as a model. "I want to be like Carol," they sniffle through a wad of kleenex, "She never gets sick." That's pretty much true. After thirty some years of teaching, I have a killer immune system. And I hardly ever get sick. 

I think I must have bragged too much, though. The week before break, the sixth graders were sneezing and coughing and blowing their noses, and last Saturday, the first day of vacation, I woke up with a scratchy throat. Which just kind of hung around for a couple of days, then turned into a full blown cold on Christmas Eve. 

And all of a sudden, all of my plans for cleaning, and seeing friends, and catching up on my reading, and blogging have just kind of gone right out the window...


Sick
by Barbara Vance
Don't breathe next to me!
You might get me sick.
Your nose is so red
That it looks like a brick.

Your eyes are all puffy;
You're sneezing a lot.
I'm leaving the room;
I don't want what you've got. 

Don't cough when I'm here--
you might pass it on.
For goodness sakes,
Cover your mouth when you yawn. 

Read the rest of the poem here.

Donna Smith, who has very recently moved to Pennsylvania, is hosting Poetry Friday at Mainely Write.

11 comments:

Christie Wyman said...

Oh, Carol. I, too, have been feeling less than stellar since we finished up last Friday. I am blaming it on my Kindergarten sniffles. I pride myself on my Teflon-coated immune system, but this cold/flu season got the best of me. Here's to a healthy 2019!

Molly Hogan said...

Well, I'm sorry you've been sick, but I'm glad to see that your nasty cold hasn't affected your sense of humor. Thanks for sharing Vance's poem.Get better soon!

Linda Mitchell said...

oh, noooooo! Get under the covers and sleep. sTAT! I love how you turned even a day of sick into a great post. Feel better soon.

Joyce Ray said...

My sympathies, Carol. Everyone I know, including me, has had a go with a cold this holiday season. May you find the rest that you need and feel better very soon.

Carol Varsalona said...

I'm sorry that you are ill, Carol, but your Vance poem makes for a hilarious post. I am bookmarking this poem just in case someone around me has a cold. Happy New Year.

Linda B said...

Sending 'get well' non-cooties across the neighborhoods to you, Carol. I usually hope I am continuing my 'teacher' immunities since I pick up the girls & walk through the school. I know what you mean, after a few years, teachers do well! Sorry that the 'guard' let you down, hoping it changes for the rest of your break! I do love that you found this perfect poem for you! Happy New Year!

Whispers from the Ridge said...

Sick is definitely no fun. I can totally relate to this poem! I do hope the new year brings you good health and cheer.

Donna Smith said...

I am so sorry you were sick over this break. But wasn't it worth it? You got to share this gem with us that probably wouldn't have been shared otherwise! Always a silver lining...maybe??

Mary Lee said...

WAH! That's a Christmas Break buzz-kill! I had my turn after Thanksgiving. Thank goodness I managed to make it through NCTE. But then I lost my voice and gained a really wretched cough. This too shall pass and your immune system will be able to bump it up another notch. Sending hugs ('cause I'm not scared of no germs)!

Michelle Kogan said...

Well you might be sick but you still have a grand sense of humor, thanks for the delightful poem Carol! Hope the germs move quickly away from you and you're feeling better soon. I think sometimes our bodies hold out on getting sick until we have time to take care of ourselves–unfortunately that often falls on our time off. Happy New Year!

author amok said...

I love the simplicity of these lines:
I'm leaving the room;
I don't want what you've got.