Sixty Degrees and A Little Chalk

Every year on the first school day of 60 degree weather following winter I take coatless kids outside to play with chalk and bubbles. Literally, we stop what we are doing, I announce it is 60 degrees, kids cheer, I cheer and we pack up the equipment and go. It is always a blast and I always look forward to that day. Seeing the faces of so many happy bubble popping, blowing, chalking happiness.

I would like to invite all you slicers out there to join me and my students on April 30th for the second year of Chalk-A-Bration. It is an event anyone can join as long as there is chalk involved. Chalk a poem, drawing, anything appropriate and link it here at Teaching Young Writers! For more info see last years post with the details here! I hope to see you there and your chalky love. :)

A Summer Dream

After a week off I am now dreaming about summer. I care deeply about my students and enjoy watching them bloom in the springtime but I am really looking forward to the mental break. Every time I am in a summer dream this is what I picture. It is so calm. So clear. So peaceful. I am dreaming of serenity today. 

Sunlight fades into

warm shadows.

My fingers dance in earth’s lake laced breath

as sand mists against my legs

and I sink in the endless dune.

In a squint

my smile breathes

as the orange pink light waves to me.

A moment.

I pause and watch the last sliver slip

and darkness takes the day.

There, I crouch

at my altar

laying vows

committed to myself.

Thank you Stacey for acknowledging me in the call for slices today.

Meant to...

Today was a day full of "meant to do,." I meant to pull the kite out from the basement and attach the kite string...
but didn't.
I meant to clean the bathroom...
oops!
I meant to pick up sticks in the yard...
still sticky.
I meant to fold laundry...
watch out, it might fall on you.
I meant to sweep the kitchen floor...
please call before coming over. :)

However, I did download some trumpet and piano music to practice over break, because that is a "meant to be" and "needs to happen."
I did help both of my kids go through all their books on their shelves and fill it in with fresh ones.
We got my son's room "vacuum ready" as we call it...that means no Legos are in harms way. My daughter's room is not quite there. Pretty sure their is a My Little Pony crown or Strawberry Shortcake shoe that is in jeopardy.
I did slice today, in fact right now, and I wasn't sure it would happen...seeing as I had all those things above to do. However, they really don't seem important at this very moment, so onward I go!

Slicing a Story

I bet you thought this would be hard. And, you were probably right. The past few days have been harder for me, but there is always something. You see it somewhere. You find a moment of your day. Your whole life is a story full of chapters worth telling. I hope through this experience you discovered a little more about yourself and I hope you found that you are a writer. That you are worth sharing. That you are enough to have a story. Don't forget it. Don't stop. Keep telling.

I notice and look

My surroundings are clear

Moments and parts

Seed stories appear

Out of the blue

Some sad some of glee

Slices of life

Are waiting for me

Thank you to Ruth and Stacey for continuing to foster a community that has helped me grow as a educator, person and writer. Hope to see you here again on Tuesday. 

Beautiful Day

It is a beautiful day here in Michigan. Celebrated birthdays and Easter with some family yesterday and finishing up with more family today. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend and enjoys their families, cherishing them and the time they have together.
Enjoy the sunshine if you have any and if not close your eyes and picture it...soon it will be in your backyard too.

A Notebook Poetry Slice

I went on a hunt in my notebook today. I found this entry from January. I decided to take it, change the tone a bit but use a few of the lines.

flowing white

princess bright

from dark to light

our hearts ignite

show me the way

to the vaporizing fires

and may love burn on

in our lives forever

The host on this lovely Poetry Friday in March is Mary Lee at A Year of Reading.

And...Why not slice up a poem for today's Slice of Life Challenge with Stacey and Ruth at Two Writing Teachers.

Lost Dog

We lost our dog in the woods tonight. He ran right past me as I opened the door to go see my husband. It was cold. Dark. Silent. I thought, he'll come right back. My husband said, "Did you put on his leash?" Well...wasn't really planning on him coming with me, so, NO! I went and got the leash. He took it and said, "I'll find him." And he disappeared into the dark too. I kept hearing him calling. I stood in the middle of our backyard a bit helpless, waiting. Listening to all the crackling and wondering, can he see anything? Should I go back in the house? Will he come to the front door somehow getting around the other houses? I stood, motionless. Then it got quiet. No more calling out. Relief.

Lost in the night

you were

Alone in the dark

you were

Crackling your feet

you were

A ghost in the trees

you were

I CALLED OUT if

you were

Coming back to me, you were.