Skip to main content

Stillness

It’s hard for me to stay still
I don’t like quiet
I like to move
I like to do things
I like to be active
Even when I’m inactive, I’m listening to music or watching something

Stillness is stagnant
Stillness feels stuck
Stillness feels unproductive

Teaching is a crazy job that demands so much
So much time, so much effort, so much movement
I want to try to embrace the stillness and enjoy moments of calm

But as I sit here by the fireplace and watch snow fall
I can’t help but itch to move, to do, to create
I feel uncomfortable in the stillness
It reminds me I’m alone
It makes me anxious even afraid

I long to enjoy the calm
But the stillness makes me stiff

Labels:

Comments

  1. Liz ForderhaseMarch 3, 2019 at 10:43 AM

    Your poem is so revealing and compelling. As a person who is completely comfortable in stillness, I still felt the itch to get up and get active on this snowy Sunday morning. Your poem's repetition really inspired me! I'm up and off the couch...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MSheehanMarch 4, 2019 at 12:23 PM

      Thank you for reading Liz! I'm glad I could inspire you. I'm still working on embracing clam and still moments while I have them as they are often few and far between during the school day.

      Delete
  2. jennasemMarch 3, 2019 at 11:14 AM

    I can totally relate. Stillness makes me feel uncomfortable. I try to embrace, but it is so hard!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MSheehanMarch 4, 2019 at 12:24 PM

      Thank you for reading Jenna! I have a snow day today so I'm again challenging myself to appreciate the calm and restful day.

      Delete
  3. SallyMarch 3, 2019 at 6:09 PM

    The difference between activity and calm is explored well in your poem. I'm glad you chose to be a teacher because the job involves so much more activity than calm!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MSheehanMarch 4, 2019 at 12:25 PM

      Thank you for reading Sally! I love teaching because everyday there is something new and I often feel challenged in a positive way.

      Delete
  4. Amanda PottsMarch 3, 2019 at 6:14 PM

    The repetition in this reflection in verse really works. I felt stuck with you and really wanted to move. Love the last line, too: "the stillness makes me stiff." Indeed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MSheehanMarch 4, 2019 at 12:25 PM

      Thank you for reading Amanda! I appreciate your feedback as well.

      Delete
  5. FranMarch 3, 2019 at 11:08 PM

    Wow, Michelle! The juxtaposition of stillness and movement and then compared to your livelihood - teaching! Still just wow!

    "Teaching is a crazy job that demands so much
    So much time, so much effort, so much movement
    I want to try to embrace the stillness and enjoy moments of calm"

    So many facets to teaching! <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MSheehanMarch 4, 2019 at 12:26 PM

      Thank you so much for reading Fran! I feel like many teachers can relate to feeling a little out of their element on days of calm.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My turkey ran out...

In today's edition of "kids say the darndest things", I had a student who walked into our second-period French class with only 10 minutes left in the period. I know that this student lives within walking distance. I also know this student is a great story-teller. Towards the end of the class period, while students were completing their final class activity, I went over to the late student eager to hear his excuse for today. He explained that he was late because "my turkey ran out of his cage". I was surprised and amused by this story.  "So I went to the slaughterhouse on Friday to pick up a guinea fowl and a turkey" he began. "I had the turkey in a cage in my living room. This morning, my grandma woke me up and yelled 'the bird is out of its cage!' So I got up and went running around outside my house to find the turkey. Then my grandpa woke up and yelled 'what's going on here?' Then I told him about the turkey. So anyway, th...
10 comments
Read more

One Day at a Time

This week is tough. We are in the month of no breaks and we have a month until Spring Break. I’ve been fighting off headaches due to fatigue, illness, allergies, or all of the above. But today I had a great conversation with a student about the recent cancellation of the Netflix show One Day at a Time. My student shared with me his frustration about the decision especially with a lack of Latinx representation on network television. He shared how the variety of issues from harassment to LGBTQ relationships to single parenting. This student also remarked how in his opinion, Fuller House is not a show relevant to issues today and does not represent diverse perspectives. This student raised so many great points and I was pleased to give him the space to be heard. A Netflix show may not seem like the most important topic, but I was so inspired by the passion my student had and the real examples he used to highlight his points. I hope for my student and for all fans of the show that Netflix ...
6 comments
Read more

Finale

Today is the finale of the March Challenge. While endings can be difficult, we also have a new beginning. With the coming of spring and the month of April, I feel refreshed and will challenge myself to keep up my daily writing habit it all forms. I am inspired by calls to read and write poems for poetry month and am inspired by all the teacher-writers I encountered this month. Thank you to anyone and everyone who read and commented. Thank you to my #TeachWrite community for encouraging me to keep up my habit. Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for this platform and space to share. Happy Spring and Happy Continued Writing!
3 comments
Read more