all men are created equalin the image of Godexcept the men we considerless tidy, less civilized, less equalthe less men have to pull their weightin the approved mannerliving up to standardsthat they cannot because the standardsfloat in the air above themumbrellas in the windon the hot air suppliedby the men who are tidy, civilized, equalin…
feeling nothingan even temper seems dulldis-passion is a lacka dis-interesta dis-dain for participationirate, steamed up passionsuggests more than a trophyfor making it through the dayanger speeds the bloodkicks life up a notchin a way that feels morelike living fasteror perhaps sadness is preferableforlorn devastationan ache so deepdirt mounded in the shape of a holesuperiority to…
your mystery remains unsolvedthough I have tried for many yearsusing all the tools I possessheart and mind toiling endlessly discernment eludes even nowyour mystery remains unsolvedsometimes I think of something elsean easier task less vexing less fruitful, less fulfilling, lessadvantageous to greater goodyour mystery remains unsolvedexchange the plan to meet the task rededicate my attentiongreater…
at eighteen, I had a duty to elect the nextpresident, it was a duty that seemed tobe exciting, joyful, patriotic- a part ofbeing an adult, I voted, of courseand I was sure that my choice was the choice of good and godand that my choice led to a greater Americait wasn’t until many decades later…
Equality and freedomQuestioned at every turnUseless to wait for the kingdomAll promised by a loving deityLet allies bring a loud wisdomIlluminated with a justified, perpetual angerZealous, weary warriors break the white sanctumEnergizing a nation to discernDeath engineered – cannot slow the momentum 8. Write a Magic 9 poem using a theme of slavery, freedom, or…
I’ve got a slow handhand it over and no one gets hurthurt by the hand that loves youyou’ve got to hand it to herher hand holds my handhand-some is as hand-some doesdoes this seem out of handhand over hand as the game goesgoes in for hand-icraftscrafts men work with steady handshands-down this is the bestbest…
close your eyes and open your fertile mindhovering ‘neath wandering attentionan inner life beckons, leave now behindan abyss of nonbeing transcensionthe common thoughts and hallucinationreality that matches fantasywithin the confines of infinityarise with depths of fulfilling mannacondescending spiritual ecstasypartnered by an out-of-tune kalimba A dizain #3 from https://murisopsis.wordpress.com/2021/03/31/looking-for-poetry/ One 10-line stanza10 syllables per lineEmploys the…
I’m weary of not knowing what my plans are for the next school year. I had thought I was in a school that I could feel comfortable and effective and where my presence was valued. The school is in upheaval now. Even more than before this year began, because at least the upheaval before school…
Unfortunately, I came home from my afternoon gig early today. Ordinarily a shorter afternoon is rejoice time. Today there was someone in my driveway. She arrived exactly when I did. (Made it so I couldn’t get into my own parking spot, but that is not the worst part.) I watched this woman WALK INTO MY…
I was asked to speak to some Board representatives for the private school in which I’m employed part time. One of the questions I was asked was “would you be willing to come back to the school next year if we have the same head of school?” I was told there are some teachers who…
I was talking with someone who is paid to listen. She told me a story about some family drama. Someone in the family was hosting some kind of shower last summer. “Grandma”, who is 88, made the choice to attend the party because her concern for Covid was far less than her eagerness to attend…
This week in art, we looked at the artist Aaron Douglas. We watched this fascinating video: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/american-art-to-wwii/harlem-renaissance/v/a-beacon-of-hope-aaron-douglass-aspiration https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/american-art-to-wwii/harlem-renaissance/v/a-beacon-of-hope-aaron-douglass-aspiration “Aspiration” Aaron Douglas In any case, I’m thrilled with the students’ creations. Some obviously used a computer drawing app. Some used watercolor paints. All used some element that we talked about in Douglass’ work. Each created a…
So far today:teenage boys expecting “black privilege” because they were respectful and fixed their masks, according to witnessesbut were kicked off an airplane in a citywith no money or adult supervisionmother of teenage boy accusing another person of prioritizing a grandma over her son you know, because her son will commit suicide because of social…
This is a word that has been bandied about in the circles. Vague on purpose. Circles can be people who talk about politics. Circles can be people who talk about the pandemic. Circles can be people in education. It’s *the* word. In fact, I recently heard a recorded Richard Attenborough talk about unsustainable. I try…
This fascinating tale really requires photos to fully express it, but that’s too much effort.My students post photos of their math homework because we’re remote learning. *How* they photo their work can be quite entertaining. One kid was perhaps riding horseback as he took a photo of his work. Or maybe his lens was dirty.…
