Monthly Archives: September 2011

Metaphor for Teaching

24th
Sep. × ’11

Hold someone
on a bike
Let it wobble not fall
keep it right
Calmly repeat
many times:
“Shoulders down,
pedal faster, steer!”
Don’t be afraid
only wince from behind
Convince yourself
she’ll clear upcoming poles
Let go

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Caring For Oneself

24th
Sep. × ’11

I.
In tenth grade the teacher said
“The paper is due tomorrow
I don’t want to hear
about any broken arms
or anything”
That evening I hurt my shoulder
playing basketball
and cry begged my mom
to type what I said
despite her protestations
the absurdity, my hysteria
we needed to go to the doctor
I wouldn’t budge
I wanted to be someone
who exceeded expectations
What was wrong with that
gosh [...]

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Psyching Oneself Out

19th
Sep. × ’11

I.
When in last place in a race
I swim differently
flailing arms
tacking zig zag patterns
frantic yet unceasing
quitting unimaginable
less effort yields drowning
no give up
Instant replay wish
to grant myself serene childishness
re-conjure me up, fearlessly risk loss
scraped knee smiling learned something new
(not a modicum of knowledge
a fact wouldn’t do)
Strive higher (as big as learning to read)
re-conceive how I’ve seen
for the [...]

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ODE TO SEPTEMBER

8th
Sep. × ’11

September is hard on perfectionists
nothing is done, anxiety surmounts
prior beginnings replay in memory
like radio songs recalling lost loves
But little footsteps will arrive tomorrow
little faces count on us to overcome
our notions of supposed to and just right
Don’t give up, at all costs, remain calm

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HURRICANE IRENE

8th
Sep. × ’11

I would most like to return
to a house of unsures
unknowns unexplored
unassumed space for love
all unfamiliar safe
untold as if anything
were possible nothing laden with loss
lost what once was
Winds only make waves
because you know what was
there once             no longer
things come and go
the going only beautiful
if you don’t know
this detached state of grace
the possible in place
so much [...]

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