Granddaddy and I are walking around “the horn.” I am puzzling over why he calls this path “the horn.” When he says it, I know he means the journey from his house down the gravel road past the formidable, fairy-tale-dark woods with a tiny cemetery in the clearing, past unpainted houses in various stages of … Continue reading First, do no harm
Today’s post serves a dual purpose: My daily Slice of Life Story Challenge and Spiritual Journey Thursday, organized by my friend Margaret Simon on the first Thursday of the month. Thank you, Margaret, for the invitation to host. I chose to write around the theme of “balance.” Not necessarily what you may think… ******* It’s … Continue reading Equinox
I was sixteen years old the first time I went to New York City—that’s the same age, according to his own writing, that St. Patrick was kidnapped in Britain and carried to slavery in Ireland. I didn’t know this fact at the time. I arrived in the city that long-ago day with my high school … Continue reading In the name of St. Patrick
“Literacy is the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, compute, and communicate using visual, audible, and digital materials across disciplines and in any context. The ability to read, write, and communicate connects people to one another and empowers them to achieve things they never thought possible. Communication and connection are the basis of who we … Continue reading What is literacy?
The big question on Day Three of our Teacher Summer Writing Institute: How do I see myself as a teacher of writing—no matter my grade level or content area? The day became a collage of images and symbolism. Teachers were tasked with using postcards and personal artifacts as metaphors for teaching writing. They used these ideas … Continue reading Seeing me
One recent morning, dark and dreary, as I pondered, weak and weary, after binge-watching vintage noir films (as if one needs more psychological drama on top of taking one’s husband for another ER visit due to his sky-high blood pressure and pains in his still-healing heart, rising pandemic numbers and escalating real-life horrors televised nonstop … Continue reading Blanketgeist
Sunny May afternoon. Warm, lazy. Neighborhood moderately quiet but for the occasional baby-like cry of young goats from a pen hidden in a snatch of mixed-woods across the street. They sound like little kids … which is exactly what they ARE … Absolutely nothing is happening. I will check the mail. Again. Patches of thick, … Continue reading Sidewalk surprise
So, April has had a number of firsts for me, beyond “first pandemic.” It’s the first time I’ve attempted to write a poem a day for National Poetry Month. My first plunge into Poetry Fridays. And this is the first time I’ve participated in a Progressive Poem. Our poem was born on the first day … Continue reading Progressive poem is here
This is my second attempt at writing a blitz poem. The first didn’t go so well. I think I am getting the hang of it. Will keep practicing to see what comes … of course my thoughts are colored by COVID-19. Signs of Sun Read a bookRead the signsSigns of springSigns of the timesTimes of … Continue reading Blitz poem: Signs of sun
The road is longWith many a winding turnThat leads us to who knows whereWho knows where … —”He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” B. Scott/B. Russell Dear Son, I think this may be my favorite picture of you. For several reasons. I like to see you in such a peaceful setting, walking that country path … Continue reading Carry on
