Learn to Teach

Yesterday was your birthday I sent you a message But it didn't feel the same We were so close so fast But not for long It felt sudden and real But a part of me wondered how long it would last I hadn't had a friend so close and so fast It was default Every moment together Spending time with your family Watching your dog We shared everything Clothes Secrets Nannying jobs Boys You hurt me a little You hurt her a lot I feel healed and wonder if it could be better again But for her I hesitant I ripped off the band-aid and didn't look back Today I wonder What would've been

Inside my backpack I carry everything Gum, mints, tissues Chapstick, lotion, Advil I carry my laptop I carry my chargers Pens, pencils, highlighters, sticky notes I carry the weight of 100 quizzes yet to be graded I carry the fatigue of a 2nd-year teacher who hasn't has spring break yet I carry the stress of a wedding that's 4 months away I carry so much It's hard to let others take the burden But sometimes, I must put down my backpack To let everything go Only if for a weekend

When a stranger appears at your door No, I was not busy when you came! I was not preparing to be busy Feed him for three days Your plate is waiting Rice? Pine nuts? Before asking who he is, where he's come from, or where he's headed We will snip fresh mint into your tea Your plate is waiting He'll have strength enough to answer Or, by then you'll be such good friends You don't care Here, take the red brocade pillow. Sentences, words, and phrases from Red Brocade by Naomi Shihab Nye

grape, wine, purple, mauve  magenta, orchid, plum, puce midnight, pansy, dusk boysenberry, jam, refresh relaxing, amethyst, calm

Three Things I Know To Be True Plans All the lists and calendars and appointments can't always ensure smooth sailing Things happen that change your plans Sometimes you are in Prague walking in the square, admiring the beauty And you get a call A relative has passed away All the plans to enjoy change and your focus shifts to your family and their loss Love Love is around in more ways than you expect Even when all you see is darkness and all you feel is pain When you are thousands of miles away from your family and friends You live alone in a tiny apartment, alone in the city of love You reach for your laptop and Skype your family And a piece of you comes back in place Fear This is the one that is with you always, though you try to fight it It was with you when you held your brother's hand, nervous on your first day of kindergarten It was with you when your parents drove away and you were alone on your college campus It was with you when you left ...

The best part of me Makes me think, makes me dream, makes me wonder It lives in a deep, hidden part It loves fiercely and tries hard It doesn’t like to show itself Yet, it is always there beneath the surface When I am listening to music Reading a book Doing yoga Enjoying time with loved ones It is there, sometimes unhiding, unashamed The best part of me has always been there Even when it hides, feels afraid, feels embarrassed The best part of me is creative and bold when it wants to be It is learning to come out of the shadows It is learning to embrace the light

Today's poem is inspired by The New York Times ad poem "Truth is Hard" campaign beggining May 2017  https://store.nytimes.com/products/truth-kids-poster . The truth is I am tired The truth is I try hard every day, but sometimes not my hardest The truth is I am always worried I'm not doing enough for the kids The truth is I don't feel like the best role model all the time The truth is I make mistakes and forgive my kids more easily than I forgive myself The truth is I am still trying to fully embrace my identity as a writer The truth is I have been faking it hoping I'm making it this year The truth is I love my students everyday, even when they drive me crazy The truth is I know my kids will leave this world a better place than they found it The truth is I get hope from interactions with teenagers everyday The truth is I am only one person The truth is I am me and I am enough