Just Two More #VerseLove25 Poems Left. Day 29. Titling a Poem with Opposite Meaning & a Last Graduate Course Taught for the Semester

These dang allergies. Can't find the seasonal pollen. We were to hold a hand in our writing but I was in self-deprecation mode and, truth be told, I'm simply exhausted from another semester of labor and I'm in need of down time to grade and advise.

I'm very thankful to teacher/writer/author Dr. Jarred Amato for visiting with my students today after they read Just Read It. It's a teacher's dream...so many ways to make reading doable and accessible in the classroom. 

Ah, but I need to get through today. Busy one. Again, I just want to be left alone to grade, but we all know how that is. 

April is Coming to an End. Day 28 of VerseLove25. Tonight, My Last Grad Class of the Semester. And so Many Thoughts for My Dog-Loving Friends

Last night I ended with one class, only to come home and get ready for the class tonight. Always crazy to think we've ridden the 15-week wave together. I know it's hard to admit, but the blurring of such rituals are real, even if the learning is new to the students in my care. I love them, really I do, but the conveyor belt is so fast at this point, that I can't keep any of it straight. 

Did I already teach this? Have we discussed this? Stop me if I'm being repetitive. 

I loved yesterday's prompt to push us to make flowers out of rain showers...to write optimism over our despairing selves. I've tried to do this all my life, keeping the ugly to the side, but it is a hard battle. It's too easy to get into the Chicken-Little syndrome, because there's always reasons to think the sky is falling. Schindler's List vs. Life is Beautiful. Similar stories. Different takes (and that is a horrible analogy, I know). It's just that I've always fought to find joy, even in joyless times, even if it is not my natures. For me, happiness is a choice (but I know many others don't see it this way). 

So, to respond to yesterday's poem prompt I tried to explain myself a little. Happy Tuesday. I can't wait to be finished with teaching this semester.

 

Day 27 of #VerseLove25, Thinking About Serenity, Odes, and Finding Ways to Calm the Being on Hectic Days

I realize this work-a-holic doesn't have too many getaways for finding serenity. Rather than knitting, I tend to find other intellectual projects to jump into, including a poem-a-day for #VerseLove. When asked for an unwinding poem, my trend used to be with running, but those days ended (boo) and walking is good, but I've done that before. I hate that I don't have the sweaty, pavement-pounding salvation of my younger self (and these days I'm even finding walking difficulty, especially up and down stairs.

Still, writing gives me peace, so I went with that.

Yesterday, I was on campus again (twice) for varying events (a softball game and another awards ceremony). I also delivered 300 books for an even next week.. We're getting there. I came only to make the Kentucky Cake (thanks, Alice for the recipe) for the last nights of graduate courses. 

Here's to yet another Monday, and a little poetic mandala.

It Was About the Ode, Yesterday, and a Wish for Better Health (Embrace the Age). Day 26 of #VerseLove25 Before Heading to a Community Event

I had the great blessing of hosting author Torrey Maldonado in Connecticut the last few days and in addition to visiting schools, we also had a book story event, a National Indy Bookstore Day, at Possible Futures in New Haven, Connecticut. The past two days have been exhilarating, especially at this time of the year when a University Professor's time and energy are at an all time low. I'm excited, though, because the joy on the faces of teachers and young writers makes everything single ounce of time worth it. 

Yesterday's prompt what to do an ode to old age and to bring forward wishes for a better body of wellness. I have to say I could have very easily gone with teeth, but I've always been fond of my hernia surgeries and my newfound psoriasis which seem to find a way into how I write, poetically, each year. I was telling Torrey that we only need a good thunderstorm and the leaves will burst. That happened last night, so I'm hoping the pollen phase will soon end as my head is a battleground of plugged ears, a runny nose, and a tight chest. 

In the meantime, my ode. It's Sunday and I need to look ahead to the work-week ahead.

On the 25th of #VerseLove25, My True Love Gave to Me Good Wishes with a Double Dactyl Poem (Whatever That Is)

I readily admit I failed yesterday's #verselove25 challenge, only because I was out of the house for 14 hours with writer Torrey Maldonado visiting schools and living a good live of storytelling, humor, middle school kids, and the beautiful dedication of teachers (more on that down the road). Truth is, we spent hours with 500+ 7th & 8th graders at Wooster Middle School - a day to be remembered for always. 

This afternoon we'll be at Possible Futures in New Haven, 2 p.m., where Torrey will be signing more autographs and doing his thing at a public venue. What a day (and that Scrabble game we began will soon be completed....someday. When? Who knows?). 

Happy Saturday. The poem assigned yesterday was to be whimsical and dactyl (something about syllables and emphasis, which I couldn't figure out with this aging-fart brain...but I tried).

On the 24th Day of #VerseLove25, the Pollen is Doing Me In...But There's a Big Day Ahead with Stratford Public Schools

Torrey made it to the Marriott. Books have been picked up and we're heading to a day of middle school presentations. My head, however, is stuffed up with pollen, so another etheree challenge has be a little more congested than I want to be. 

My writing this morning will be short, but the poem will tell you why. Here's hoping for a clearer head once the coffee kicks in. 

Phew! 23 #VerseLove25 Poem, A Crazy Day of Events, the Departure, and a Wonderful Celebration of Student Greatness on Campus

I hope I didn't make a mistake. One of my porch windows (not five years old) has moister in between the glass panes. I believe a seal is broken. Should be under warranty, but the company that installed them was done through an account I no longer have access to because of checking scam. Joy. Anyway, an ad came in the mail for the same window company so I called to see what might happen. Something tells me these people are going to try to sell me all new windows when I have a house of new windows. We shall see.

That wasn't what I planned on writing about this morning because I have so many pictures from great work on campus. Alas, I sort of push away my day to do day grind for the VerseLove tradition, which shakes things up for my thinking and challenges me to move the mind in alternative directions. Today was simply a listing poem...I was still groggy so went after the morning ritual which has grown habitual.

Ah, in the meantimes, numerous rounds of applause for Dr. Margaret McClure and another incredible Research Symposium and to Dr. Melissa Quann and another Celebration of the Center of Social Impact. Amazing work and wonderful to take part. Now, off to New Haven to pick up books! Bryan's bookmobile once more!

Happy Day After Earth Day. Accomplished #VerseLove25, Poem 22, and Now It is a Marathon Day of Research Presentations, Airports, and Award Ceremonies

Education is brutal year round, but during the end-of-a-semester, the number of celebrations, ceremonies, invitations, and obligations pile up. There's a good 12-hours of them today and Chitunga is heading back to Iowa. I hate that. He's only been here a couple of days, but it all changes for the good when he is home...especially with Karal who lives at his side when he's here. He dropped me of on campus yesterday and the picked me up after my late class. We headed to Mecca for Vietnamese soup, then back home for the last evening of conversation.

Yesterday's poem prompt was a doozy...Have a dinner with an emotion at the table. I couldn't do that, quite frankly, because I didn't want to get overly corny. So I played as if Kentucky bourbon was a human being and had dinner with her. Hey, imagination is what we make of it

Also, a wonderful congratulations for Ann E. Burg receiving an Earth Book Award for Force Of Nature in the young adult category. That's awesome, especially since we highlighted it this year on campus. 

Okay, humpday. It's time to get the party started. 

Well, the 21st Day of #VerseLove25 Was to Politically Rant, But I Don't Have the Energy. I'd Rather Look to Optimism and Possibility

It's also wonderful having Chitunga home for a short time. It's much easier for me to be distracted, to find an excuse to spend more time with him, all knowing that the opportunities for such gatherings get more and more rare. We're both workaholics, but it's good to share words during the day, pick up lunch, and plan for dinner all while a mad-dog, Karal, demands all of our attention. 

The extended holiday ends today, and it's back to the grind - not that any of the grind disappeared while we were given a break. We watched Adolescence (2nd time for me) and walked the dog. He also reminded me of the outdoor lights he got me and the outdoor liquor dispenser he found online which I should have him assemble before he leaves. 

The 21st prompt for VerseLove with to politically rant agains all the chaos of the world right now. I had too many things needing to be accomplished, so I went towards what I could accomplish, rather than allowing the anxiety closet to open. And with that, it's time to plan for class.

Welcome Back, Monday...Day 21 of VerseLove Where I Offer My 20th Poem of April (to be inspired by a Musical, I guess). Did What I Could

Yesterday was a wonderful day for food, and Patrick & Stephanie out did themselves with ham, beef, potatoes, soups, vegetables, and desserts. It was a gorgeous day and Chitunga surprised me, by driving down to Stratford from Syracuse (he was there visiting Lys, and decided to come here for an Easter dinner and some chill time before heading back to Des Moines. I know he has to work all day tomorrow, but I'm hoping I'll get him for a few hours of yard work, too. BONUS. 

The poetic challenge yesterday was to take a line from a musical and turn it into a poem. I have an odd relationship with musicals, at once troubled by their corniness and over the top theatrics, but also intrigued by making every moment in life a musical, too. I think it might have been Hair that was the one and only musical that really caught my attention. My parents got me a ticket to Cats once when it came to Syracuse (that was fascinating to see al the hype). Also say Les Miserable in London, which was cool. Ah, I should take advantage of being so close to Broadway...I just don't. Anyways, I went with lines from Hair to write about, well, hair. And, Wola.

Happy Easter! And on the 19th Day of #VerseLove25, the Challenge Came to Me: A Food Poem about Location, Taste, and Memory. No Brainer.

Dave and I stayed up past midnight, and I'm not used to that. Kris and Ishy retired early, and all three of them slept in, but I'm a creature of habit so I was up with coffee, writing, grading, and planning out a day. They had to pick Val up in Tarrytown before heading to Dave's sister, but I still was treated to incredible bagels and cream cheese. That made for an awesome breakfast. 

Upon their departure, Karal took a long walk, the incredible 80-degree weather was appreciated, and I when to Pam's for fish & chips in the evening.

Today will be an Easter celebration and Stephanie and Patrick's this afternoon, but I'm hoping to get some dirt therapy by pruning, raking, cutting, and landscaping before all that begins. 

In the meantime...my food poem from yesterday. That was such a good meal.

Always Happy to Play with Words, Especially When They are New to My Spoken Vocabulary. Day 18 of #VerseLove (or OctobthorpeVerseLove)

I'm happy because my out-of-town, once-in-town friends have returned to Stratford to spend the night. We had dinner last night with Beth and Dan, and spent some time catching up. Went with a Biscuit, planned on eating outdoors, but the clouds came in so we moved indoors. Good food. Good company. Great holiday weekend for any and all who celebrate. 

The #VerseLove challenge was to go to a word maker and randomly get 10 words to you you, but I wanted to find 10 words I didn't know and to play with them. You might need a dictionary for today's poem (which was yesterday's), but that's what I wanted for myself. New words for a new day. But that's good for me. 

A Fun Day 17 #VerseLove25 Prompt: Use Google to Do a Search and Take Down All the Suggestions It Offers & See What Poem Might Be Created

Thursday (yesterday), was a healing day...time to clean, time to grade, time to reflect, time to plan, and time to organize. This is what comes of extended holiday breaks...a moment to inhale and exhale. I loved waking up to Angie Braaten's Google Search prompt, where you begin searching items and figure out where it leads you as you begin typing ideas in the search-bar menu. I would never have thought of such a prompt, nor would I have unraveled all the material that naturally comes from any basic question to punch into the bar. Phew. I could have lost myself for hours, but I had enough to write.

Today, I'm looking forward to out-of-town guests and the opportunity to cook again for a crew. I have the brisket soaking in sauce, onions, garlic, spices, and joy, and I will slow cook it for you 8-hours starting at 9 a.m.. I have a 10 o'clock collegial mentoring session, and then I can think about getting the house ready for guests. Mt. Pleasant looks forward to having company and friendship again.

Last night, too, Pam brought home Caprese pizza from Pepe's (of New Haven claim-to-fame: pesto, tomato, mozzarella, and cheese. Dang, that is a good pizza. They charcoaled crisp they get on the thin crust brings me back to the Pavone's from the Penn Can Mall, and Lewis's pizza in Sherburne. So, so good. 

And now, to kick off today.

Writing an Etheree, Philosophically, on the 16th Day of #VerseLove25. I Will Always Be a Fan of a Syllabic Challenge (Especially When I See the Art)

Phew. The Connecticut temperatures are doing their best to keep winter air hanging onto the outdoor world. I see the temperatures climbing up for the Easter Bunny, which we can all use, because we're decorating rocks this years. The price of eggs have not come down at all.

This morning, the students have departed campus, leaving some of us in our offices doing administrative work, but I did find a second to get my shin-high grass mowed. I should have worn gloves - it was that cold. I am now awaiting soil therapy and thinking about the landscaping joy to come. 

An etheree poem is a ten line pome that goes 1 syllable, to two syllables, all the way down to ten. I learned something new yesterday and realized that poem naturally takes a shape worth mirroring, which I tried for my early morning wake-up call (the April tradition I've grown to love). Ah, but now I need to think about reports, planning, and marketing that I've been putting on the back burner for a while. I suppose this is the Director part of my job. 

Beetlejuiced! On the 15th Day of April, #VerseLove25, the Task was to Focus on Nature & Colors (But, I Had My Hair Trimmed, So...Well...My Mind)

Oof. Returned late last night from a graduate class, spent most of the day preparing for it, and attending the Humanities Fellows research symposium, where colleagues were honored for their research (AMAZING). I delivered class-sets of books and, as always, participated in the 2025 #VerseLove challenge of EthicalELA.

I cannot speak highly enough of Fade Factory in Stratford and the ownership of Jerry Simeon. Your barber becomes your brother, and the other barbers become family. It's a once-a-month gathering, but I cherish the conversations and all the great work they've done on so many over the years. I kept thinking about a beautiful dialogue from last week about genetic engineering, and for some reason (the idea of colors) simply said, "this is the poem." It helps that Beatlejuice is the perfect verb and he, too, wore a black and white suit...and I tried to stay in the gray scale with aspect of the usual froggy-green. 

Tapping the Safe Spaces in Our Lives...Day 14 of #VerseLove. For Me? Definitely My Front Porch Where I Do Much of My Thinking

Phew. That was a long day (as if they aren't all long days). Began with the dentist who basically told her staff that my retirement funds are all in my mouth, which is somewhat accurate - if only I could live off my teeth one day. Also finished grading, planned for class, went to meetings, hosted class, and came home feeling like start dust (probably the influence in my response for yesterday's poetic prompt). I am looking forward to having Thursday and Friday with the University closed so I can catch up on a better rhythm for living a life. The amusement park has been spinning a little (a Lot) too fast. 

Here's to our Tuesday.

As the 13th Day of #VerseLove25 Call For: Remembrance. Not Only of the Armenian Genocide but for a Colleague & Friend

I had the great fortune to attend the celebration of Dr. Jason Courtmanche, UCONN-Storrs and fellow director of CWP, and to head the reflections of love, music, intellect, family, friends, undeniable friendship of a great man. Cancer took him way too young, but his influence on everyone he met was instantaneous. It is still hard for me to believe he was sick so quickly, and gone way too soon.

Dr. Sarah Donovan, Oklahoma State University, fellow writing and YA scholar, and Ethical-ELA extraordinaire asked writers to remember the Armenian people who lost their lives during another world world tragedy of the early 20th century. It's a hard subject, but so is the intentional killing of lives anywhere, whether through war, famine, or genocide. 

I write from privileged spaces. I, too, am aware of that. 

Weekends are for Grading, I Guess (Until Exhausted Eyes Begin to Water & You Can't See), But I Hit the #VerseLove25 Challenge, Day 12. All Is As It Should Be.

I really had one major goal for this Saturday...to get caught up on grading so I can plan on Sunday before going to a celebration of life for my colleague at UCONN who passed, Dr. Jason Courtmanche. I made it from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m., but realized I couldn't see my screen any more because my eyes were watering. As always in April, however, I took the time to do the #VerseLove25 challenge, which was to recall a text that changed your thinking, for me it was Phyllis Wheatley's., To The Right Honorable William, Early of Dartmouth, that we read in a Dr. Carol Boyce Davies class for African American Literature. The class was important because it helped me to begin questioning access to education, but also how much 'formal language' traditions needed to be mastered, even to be considered amongst the aristocracy. To be a person of letters, especially from a race brutalized through American history, one needed to master language and use their forms. The inequities and barbaric treatment of black writers and thinkers continued, but it was then I saw for the first time the harshness of our educational systems.  

I chose to take the last word in each line of her 18th century poem to write back to her in this time of history, all while recalling my 30+ years as an educator, working for the educational excellence of all students. Dr. Alfred Tatum helped me to see the importance of textual lineages and Dr. Davies' course, as always, was crucial to my intellectual transitions which led me to where I am today. Ah, America. I still hope it may one day get itself right. 

Thankful to Make It to Saturday Morning, Yesterday Day 11 of #VerseLove, and Thankful to Have a Friday Prompts of Remembrance

I slid into Friday evening not knowing if I was coming or going. I have piles of materials needing to be graded, flashbacks to meetings that need considerable consideration, and reflection of another week with K-12 schools and the realities of teaching in higher education. I'm shaking my head. I have no answers. I am just thankful that another semester ends during #VerseLove so I can process my daily thoughts poetically. 

Today is Saturday, the forecast says rain, rain, and rain. My grass is up to my knees and I need to mow, but it's been so cold and my allergies are at an all time high. A prompt to think about my younger days was welcome. I'd much rather spend my time playing with language than trying to figure out the social ills of being human. I will say, however, that a highlight of the week was getting my hair cut at Fade Factory and listening to the debate about life on other planets. Such a short time in a barber shop, but the language exchange was fascinating and moving. I really believe that we should record all dialogue in the barber shop. Talk about enlightening. 

#VerseLove25, Poem 10. A Study of Looking a Little Closer. Ah, & On a Day When I Taught Middle Schoolers to Do the Same

One of the great parts of being part of the National Writing Project family is to work in K-12 schools in support of teachers and their wonderful young people. Yesterday, I had my coffee and walked two blocks to Wooster Middle School to work with ELA teachers and their students in 7th and 8th grade who are prepping for SBAC testing, but also putting their fingers into a little poetry. I believe we, Nohea Breedan, a senior from Fairfield University, accomplished for six straight hours without a break. 

Ah, before I left, however, I did a little study of looking a little closely as the gorgonzola cheese I craved for a cheeseburger on Wednesday night. This morning, if the rain subsides, I will walk Karal, participate in several ZOOM calls, and head to campus for a faculty meeting. I'm TGIF'ing like it's the most fabulous TGIF in the world. 

I am exhausted. 

On the 9th Day of #VerseLove25 Was an "If You Knew Me Then" Poem, to Explore the Varying Stages of the Lives We've Lived

Phew. Meetings are something and this morning I am off to schools to do National Poetry Month activities (all in preparation for authors still to come with CWP-Fairfield later this month. I got my cheeseburger, with gorgonzola cheese and mushrooms as well as several planning sessions completed, but a for grading (well, I will let that ride on the back of my spine a few more days). In the meantime, another poem for a Thursday, but this one written on a Thursday. 

And the allergies from the blooming tree? Oi vay. Bring on the sneezes.

Take a Saying from a Grandparent or Parent & Explore the Story in a Poem, #Day7 of #VerseLove25, and Lucky to Write/Learn with @DariusPhelps

Darius Phelps introduced #VerseLove25 to poet, Kyle Liang’s Good Son, where we were to take a piece of advice or parental commentary and run with the story. I vividly remember Dad's advice and I knew what I wanted to write about, but not where the language would take me (or to my childhood friend). That is how poetry goes.

Today, it is grading, meetings, meetings, meetings, and the final episode of White Lotus with cheeseburgers. First, I need to write today's poem for tomorrow, but for today I bring you yesterday's poem. 

Written on a Monday, but Posting on a Tuesday (But Isn't Every Day Monday Now?). #Day7 #VerseLove25. The Challenge of a Villanelle

It's hard to enter on a Monday, when there's a blur of Friday to Sunday where one has to work to maintain the work (even required to be on campus on Saturday). Then, there are so many meetings on a Monday and when you teach on Monday nights, there is little to no time to plan for the class. So, Monday's are thorny, and very much like a Devil's Walking Stick which grows abundantly in my backyard. I had my plant for a poetic challenge to write about a plant in villanelle form.

I do appreciate traditional forms of poetry because I like playing with the rules and rhyme scheme to see what comes of it. This is what came of it, but since it's a Tuesday and I'm recuperating from a Monday (they're all Monday's now), I 'll post today. Now I need time to prepare for tonight's class since there was no time over the weekend or yesterday to get to the work of teaching. And so, the Tilt-a-Whirl continues. 

 

It's invasive, really? Nope, invasive, indeed.

I've Written Many "Where I'm From" Poems (Thanks, George Ella Lyons), So Took the Day 6 Challenge to Alter Towards How Have I Arrived at This Point

Definitely tree-blooming sneezing. Ha-choo. Yikes. Pollen everywhere. I also cooked for the week and baked a cake for the neighbor who lost his brother to cancer (the same neighbor who lost his mother on January 2nd). It's a lot of heavy. 

Otherwise, it was back to grading, planning, and prepping for the week, with one nice walk, a visit to see Will & Jess (and the babies), and laundry. 

And here we are with another Monday in April (VerseLove25 #7, but I'll offer VerseLove25 #6 here). Meanwhile, back to the longer days now.  Jeepers.

Honored to, Once Again, Host a Session of @EthicalEla #Verselove and to Share a Prompt & Poem To Get the Phalanges Thinking

 I sketched a poem soon after #Verelove '24 in hopes of chiseling it throughout the year for this year's verse love. Early in my teaching career I read an article written by Sara Corbett that introduced me to the historical experiences of children uprooted by war in Sudan. The story redirected all I hoped to achieve as an educator, including how I might use the power of words to change the world for the better. Katherine Applegate’s middle-grade verse-novel, Home of the Brave, details the story of Kek, a Sudanese child relocated to the U.S. as a refugee-background  youth.  One of the poems in the book, Scars, details a  remorse felt  for not having a gaar ceremony , the Dinka tradition of scarring a young boy’s forehead as an initiation into adulthood.

You’re lucky, Ganwar says.
Why would you want such scars?
Here they mean nothing.

There they meant everything, I say. (p. 175) I like to  pair Applegate’s “Scar” with a song by Emmanuel Jal, author of War Child: A Child Soldier’s Story. The  song, “Scars” features Nelly Furtado, and has helped me to get students and teachers  writing for years. The refrain, My scars are what got me this far / And now I can touch the stars / Coz it don’t matter who you are (who you are) / We all got scars allows me to ask others: What scars do you have? Where are they? What stories do they tell?

Then, while editing it one night while my father was watching me do as I do on my computer, the poem twisted in a different direction. Always on the road to find out, and Cat Stevens singing in my error. It's one of those full-circle moments and from it, I find serenity.

Loved Dave Wooley's 4th Day Poetry Prompt to Travel a Little and to Write From What We've Seen (I Miss My Neighbors and Friends, Immensely) #VerseLove25

I have to head to campus. Yes, I know it's a Saturday, but the high school hours have slowly crept into higher education and the demands continue to grow on faculty to do more, give more, and be more. We do what we have to do.

On #VerseLove '25, day 4, the brilliant Dave Wooley offered the challenge to write a travel poem and capture the moment, which I tried to do with numerous places I've seen (with a vision to see my dear friends once again). I'm hosting day 5, today, but need to get to campus for representing our school (slim pickings for them to have faculty representation). So, I got it once again..

Here's to our Saturdays!

And On The Third Day of #VerseLove25, the Challenge Was to Steal the Rhyme Scheme & Words of Another. I Also Lied. I Labored Yesterday, So No Day Off.

The poetry challenge of VerseLove, Day 3, was to locate a poem (I chose a Ruth Stone poem) and to put the rhyme scheme and last words onto the page, and write with what you have to work with. I'll forever be thankful to Ruth Stone's mentorship, and I remember so many of her strong women poems she taught to me, ages 18-22 in Binghamton, New York. I wanted to honor her work by alluding to the Gorillas at the diner, one of her award-winning poems.

I also laugh, because at 9 a.m. there was a knock on my door yesterday, as I was contemplating what to do with a day without a schedule. It was my neighbor's son, inviting me out back because their fencing

company was coming and they needed me to take down my fence (which was the makeshift fence created from Pam's pool in Monroe that I took down. 

Long story short, I spent four hours taking down he back fence and helping them to take down a few trees and bushes, so their 6 foot fence could be put up. I was drenched, but I was glad they involved me because Karal and I both benefit from the new fence (more privacy, better quality, and more restrictions for the dog...she won't jump over this one).

The new fence will look like the white one and will run in front of their shed and before the Connecticut potatoes (rocks) that used to be used as dividers between lawns). Poor Abu will no longer have his shade for the summer afternoon naps. Ah, but I'm banging my chest. It felt good to get outdoors to do physical work rather than the cerebral. 

Now, Off to campus for today and tomorrow. They keep finding new ways to make us work even harder on the days where we should have time to work on our own projects.

3x3x3. Thankful of Leilya Pitre for her 2nd Day Prompt of Tricubes (for Spring). I Love the Brevity, Rhythm, and Precision of this Poetic Style

It's cold, but the sneezing season is upon us. I went to campus and attended a dis/ability simulation hosted by a junior. Trip, who created the program to help students and professors to experience what it's like to a student with a dis/ability on Fairfield University's campus (a conversation that many of us in K-12 educational settings have often, but I've not seen so much in higher education. He, and the program, were brilliant and having a conversation with his parents was very educational and motivating. 

It's Day 2 of VerseLove and the assignment was to write a Tricube: a three stanza poem, with three lines a piece, and 3 syllables per line.

I think because of the temperature, I went with the allergy part of the year. Lucky for me, I have Flonase in the house for my nasal mayonnaise. I also have plenty of tissues.

AND TODAY, I have space to actually think. After this post, I am going to make a plan to make the best use of a day without meetings, school visits, classes, or deadlines. I am also caught up with grading (which is odd), so I'm going to use the day to strategize the remainder of the semester.

Ah, but verse to the Day 3 poem.

April Brings Tremendous Firsts, Including Day One of Poetry with #VerseLove25, and a Wonderful Opportunity to Be a Student Summit Keynote

I have only a few brain cells left this morning and I'm using them to write a post.

Dear Shaun,

I knew in 2011 when you arrived to the summer teacher institute, you were an educator destined for greatness. We have so many memories of building youth communities together through CWP, and I was thrilled to see you continuing your excellence with the Greater Hartford Arts Academy yesterday at Rentschler Field. What a wonderful day to work with sophomores, meet senior leaders, and launch the day's work to empower young people and their visions for the world. I haven't felt such love for diversity, inclusivity, and individuality in a very long time. That is a special school. A wonderful mission. An incredible opportunity for the kids fortunate to attend.

It was also wonderful to see Nick Chanese again, to meet your superintendent Dr. Sasha Douglas, members of Capitol Region Education Council, and to have an opportunity to be at the stadium where UCONN plays football.. How amazing is it that schools, educators, and administrators are still giving their all to support the excellence of young people.

I was totally honored to be asked to speak and get the student voices going. Ha, fortunate for them I backed my remarks with the research of so many giants whose shoulders I stand upon. When you know, you know. 

Here's to you, Sir. Always.Amazing.

Bryan

And now time to spend 30 days doing what I love...working with the poetic prompts of teachers and writers from around the world with Ethical ELA's VerseLove. I went with rhyme on day one as the prompt was to take lines from other writers, but all I had was a sheet of Latin phrases, so I did what I could.

Ready for more space to think this Wednesday (it's garbage day, too, so time to take that out and begin anew). Sometimes I simply thankful to have the luck and chances that I have. 

And now to get today's day going by posting yesterday's 1st poem. 

Nital Noisufni (that's Latin Infusion spelled backwards)

Back again, creating poetic monsters, are we?

Ready to see and conquer (with chance to be free).

Time to turn V-words: Veni, vidi,, vici

(oh, gosh, another school day & I still need to pee).

But I’m here to be versed, ready for the long haul,

thankful for some time to write some life with ‘y’all.

Ars longa, vita brevis.

Yes, there another pain in my pelvis.

And shoot. I had to teach (these hips aren’t from Elvis)

Illegitimi non carborundum,

We need this month (to counter the dumb)…

We don’t need bastards to take our spirits down.

I’m here for 30 days -- the wonky way for this clown.

We language lovers here, thinking ourselves into existence, 

(shouting out to J.G. Jowett with love…1st day, her brilliance).

Cogito ergo sum. 

I can’t afford eggs or ham.

& I’m not sure how poetic my Latin is,

but they’re from a book I have (which one? none of your biz).

Ah, it’s good to be back here, typing from this April chair.

Hello, Verse Lovers…glad to return for another year.

I Get to Start My Day in Harford, Connecticut, with Student Leaders at Rentschler Field. Let's Go, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts!

Every now and again, I'm invited to speak and event that really gets my juices blended. Shaun Mitchell, a CWP favorite, has been working as an administrator for several years north of Bridgeport, and his school got funding to bring student leaders together for a day of sharing, planning, voicing, collaborating, and building a school culture they'd like to see.

The planners asked me to rev up the students before they break out in well-organized sessions for kids to share with kids what they'd like to see in their school, not only for their generation, but for many generations ahead. 

This is such a Brown School task (and one that was carried over into my doctoral work and CWP-Director leadership...listening to kids! What a great way to launch a day of exciting conversations). Google says it is just a 50-minute drive so I have to factor in the fact that I'm not a morning person and I need to travel to give opening remarks. Exciting for me is I get to be at the stadium where the UCONN Huskies play. This is a childhood dream, as I remember always loving the rivalries of Syracuse and UCONN teams. It's the same excitement I had when visiting Gampel Pavillion

It's an easy talk to give, as I'm always building my thinking on so many giants before me, including all the students I listened to and learned from in my decade of teaching in Louisville. It's also a shout out to the 8 young men who helped me with a responsibility to speak out about their relocation stories from refugee camps in Africa, to classrooms of the United States. It is listening to youth that brought forward the Writing Our Lives conferences and Young Adult Literacy Labs that have been part of the work I now do at Fairfield University.

Now, if only I can find the right gate to enter and the right location to be introduced to the microphone and technology. Yes, I know it is the first of April, but I'm used to being the fool and that is the them for my talk (dad jokes and all, 100% 4th grade approved). 

And with that, I must hit the road. 

It's also the launch of #VerseLove '25. Hope to see you for the next 30 days of April writing poetry with incredible writers, teachers, scholars, and students. I love all the challenges that come our way.