Archives
Welcome to my archives!
Bad Brayson
Herding Cats! That's what subbing for Kindergarten is like. And today there was one boy who refused to do a single worksheet. He just sat there and stuck all his crayons between his fingers. When I asked him to start working, he calmly ripped his worksheet in half....
A Hidden Gem
A Hidden Gem Today I subbed for a 5th grade class at a small school nestled in a low-income neighborhood on the south east part of town. Stray dogs wandered the streets as I pulled into the parking lot. There were no painted murals of mascots on the gray, cement...
Columbine Nursery Rhyme
Columbine Nursery Rhyme Oh, Johnny brought a gun to school His teacher cried, “You are a fool! I also have a gun,” she said And shot dear Johnny in the head. Then little kids cried out with glee “We love a school-wide shooting spree! There's really nothing now to fear...
A note on my “Coffee Cafe Customers” poems
I spend many late afternoons at a local bookstore cafe, watching the customers study, relax, and relate. I am often reminded of other writers—Hemingway and Fitzgerald—who frequented the cafes of Paris and gained inspiration from their clientele. In my own humble way,...
Coffee Cafe Customers: The Barista
This poem I shared at last month's Open Mic Night at Dagney's. If you enjoy hearing poetry from all ages, and all walks of life, I invite you to come out next First Friday at 6:00 pm at the downtown Dagney's ( Eye and 19th I believe). The casual event lasts about an...
Coffee Cafe Customers: The Four Sisters
Four statuesque Sisters stroll in the cafe Ebony elegant In slim jeans, boots and backpacks One's t-shirt reads “Act like a lady Think like a boss” In bold white letters On a black background They order four grande frappuccinos Drape themselves around two...
A Response to Trump’s Decree: Hiss!
The poetry magazine, "Rattle" posted a photograph of a startled black cat with a bristling tail and asked folks to write a poem in response based on that image. Here is my contribution. A Response to Trump's Decree: Hiss! Hiss! You startled me. Why? Your assertion...
How to Stop Mass Shootings
I just came across this article from Reader's Digest that describes one teacher's ingenious practice to identify and treat the lost and lonely children in her class. After my belly-aching about teachers who don't do their job, I thought it only fitting to share this...
The Google Classroom Day
On February 14th, I subbed for a third grade class in an industrial, lower income neighborhood. Trash drifted in the gutters and across the brown lawn of the aging school. I arrived a half hour before classes started and got the key from the secretary and hurried to...
Coffee Cafe Customer: The Barista
This is a poem I shared at last month's Open Mic Poetry Reading at Dagney's. If you enjoy hearing poetry from folks from all ages and all walks of life, I invite you to come out next First Friday Night at 6:00 pm at the downtown Dagney's (Corner of Eye and 19th...