Poet & Teacher

Look up there are sills that somebody carved
there are balloons leaving somebody’s arms
look up there’s a tall man looking back down
there’s a sneaker hanging up upside-down
look up there’s a billboard with something to say
look up there’s a cloud floating away
look up there’s still hope that you might collide
with other bits of energy under this sky
look up it’s your job to not always look down
look up because you want to—creation abounds

It won’t matter if you get to your somewhere a little bit late
it won’t matter if you step in a puddle today
it won’t matter if you miss another furrowed brow
it won’t matter even on fourteenth street
amidst the crowd, if you look up
you won’t bump into things
people will bump into you
and it will be their fault.

Ignore the cursing
make energy
make meaning.

Please work better
like everything else
I never meant to neglect you.

Among many other things we are rated on
metabolism fast or slow.

Break down here
comes in many forms
we could make this one positive

If you could just break me down
I would relax.

We pretzel again and again
various motivations, myriad forms
match what the media makes mandatory
what this age is meat to be
tests, technology, computerized success
possibility and wait
terrifying trajectory
at what cost do we leap
what lily pad we do we leave
the onslaught of your beliefs:
“They’re too young to know what’s good for them”
“Test them regularly”
“Are your kids going to be prepared for the SAT?”

Listen carefully
when hearing such critiques
do not become defensive
do not cry
be willing to change
never feel stuck
do not commit to your ideals
that you think are forming
drop all security you’re grasping

you are everyone else

there is nothing special about you
watch the masters copy the masters
have patience
if you’re hard enough on yourself
someday your posture will improve
you will stand for something worthwhile.

I.
Explain “culture,” explain the birth of civilization,
explain evolution as a theory,
(avoid the political landscape of why I’m saying it’s a theory
although anywhere else I wouldn’t disclaim it),
explain the difference between fact and opinion
in the name of naming it a theory.

Be prepared for questions like
“Who’s Christ?” when you explain the origin of the term B.C.
acknowledge that you shouldn’t explain deeply
although someone just shouted out
“You know, that guy on the plus sign.”

Explain to a mother that her daughter is
two years behind in reading.
When she asks you why, blink,
try to believe the words you form
“we’re working on it.”

Avoid avoiding the child you dreamt about
reforming.  Watch him flounder
the flapping, the flagging, the frustrating force
of time and expectations mounting.
We are merely forces in a disequilibrium
worth tolerating enough to contribute to.

Accept the inexplicable;
build the context.

II.
Explaining “theme” goes poorly
they are ten; understand birthday party themes
mean fairies, Sponge Bob, cowboys.

Continue to say unhelpful things ”It’s a universal idea?”
“What’s a universal idea?”
“Like how friendship is rewarding,”
“Isn’t that a topic?”

The radio mentions malaria in Haiti;
a room full of PhDs who can’t find employment;
the state of the tea party as a successful revolution;
no theme is alluded to.

Computers struggle
to recognize complex patterns
face recognition just charted.

A Levi’s commercial
says many people don’t believe
there are unexplored frontiers.

So where are the paths that connect us?
What became of exploring as a means to an end
not only selfish pontificating?

Unpack the patterns
teach them to identify the knowledge
that unites.

Sleep until you are ready
get up to do something you love
touch someone if only by saying “hello”

Play more than one role
permit yourself  imperfections
strive for calm

Listen to your arteries work
write the rhythms only you hear
accept you are alone

Do not excuse yourself from possibility
engage in minutes’ madness
take on time’s dogged power

Drink coffee, fold the laundry, run,
read, do not let need get to you,
write, what you hope will remain.