May 3

#VerseLove Day 23, Rolling the Dice

This prompt asked us to roll three “metaphor dice” for inspiration. Mine arrived as “home / midnight / dance.” Here goes.

be home from the dance by midnight

which is to say

only dance with nice boys
drink only water, the
punch might be spiked
the world is scarier after dark
nice girls go home early
dancing is only safe
in the shelter of
an overheated gym

I say
dance like no one is watching
have mace at the ready
look all boys in the eye,
seek their truth
the world is scary
at any time of day
I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong

May 1

#VerseLove Day 22, All Things Cheese

This topic took my mind in several directions… varieties of cheese, cheese as in cheesy smile, cheese platters/grazing tables, memories of debates about cheese…

Cheese

I love cheese
hard,
soft,
smelly,
dense,
holey,
they all
have their charm.

What, you don’t say!
I am too
indiscriminate,
too lacking in
sophistication?

Maybe I need to
cough and sneeze
stand at ease
enjoy the
evening breeze
or simply watch more
John Cleese.

Regardless,
it would
greatly pain me
to abandon
cheese.

April 29

#VerseLove Day 29, What a Poem Can Do

What a Poem Can Do

A poem cannot rewind time
nor can it repair fractures left unmended;
it cannot gloss over what causes us pain.

But, a poem can reveal new perspectives
cause us to inspect further
those things we love… or hate.

A poem can help us
find our breath,
a refreshed rhythm.

A poem offers us
the permission to
bare our soul to others

who share our pain
and our triumphs,
who hold space.

A poem is not a band aid
nor a panacea,
after all, it is but words.

Nonetheless, a poem
crafted honestly
has unmeasurable power.

 

April 25

#VerseLove Day 24, Found Annotations

This poem is derived from a small number of the annotations I have made in Brené Brown’s book Dare to Lead. At EPIClearners, we are doing a close read and conducting vulnerable conversations about how the concepts apply in teaching and learning environments.

get clear:
whose opinions of you
matter?
seek those who love you,
not despite your imperfections,
but because of them.
seek first to understand
then to be understood.
I am going down this path
same as, and with, you.
let us travel together,
build a map
of love, belonging, and joy
together.

April 21

#VerseLove Day 21, When You Need a Break

Dairy Queen

hot, sticky evening air
sun lingering in the sky
breaking from lassitude

smallest in the stroller
another on his bike
you and i, daughter
chatting about all and nothing

wending the familiar path
to the spot a mile away

where all chose
their favorite
ice cream indulgence,
sat on the curb
to race the drips
to the final lick

the return trek home
as the sun slid to sleep

April 19

#VerseLove Day 19, How to Be

How to Be Truthful

know your own values
sit with them
try them on for size
validate them

don’t let others’
values replace your own

in every situation
respond with truth
(kindly offered)
even when
your view is unpopular

as time goes on
others will come
respectfully entreating
your counsel

trusting you will
speak honestly,
sincerely,
truthfully
(always kindly)

April 17

#VerseLove Day 17, Choices We Make

Motherhood

Once upon a time…
the beginning to every great fairytale
once upon a time…
I was a solid corporate climber

middle management, respected
even admired by some
comfortable lifestyle
the world was my oyster

once upon a time…
I left that corporate world
to become a stay-at-home mom
by choice, with enthusiasm

once upon a time…
“what do you do [career]?”
“ummm, raise my children”
dead silence

once upon a time…
I lived the ego-diminishing
reality that no one
respected what I chose to do

once upon a time…
I was a mother to young children
who depended on me for everything
who thought I was all-knowing

once upon a time…
those children grew up
now live independent lives
my love and care undiminished

today…
I hope my influence
is felt and appreciated,
that once upon a time…

was the right choice.