Jul

31

Haikuage

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A ripple sounds

Ears alert, nose to the air

Stark stillness returns


Jul

14

Acrostic poems

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Just a few acrostics that I wrote for the Central Connecticut Student Writing Project, where I’m instructing this summer.

Bunches of water

Under the spout

Catching the rainfall

Kick it for fun

Empty it onto the flowers

Try to spit into it from a distance


Gorgeous

Egomaniac

Over the top

Relaxed

Greedy

Enormous


Window to my soul

Route to the unknown

Imagination at play

Trip

Into dreams

No limits

Go for it!



Mar

11

Poetry is fun project

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Here’s an independent assignment I gave my American Literature students to do during our final week of state testing. I wanted to give them something that was content-light but still academic. Most of them really enjoyed it.

I should point out that all of this (except for the samples, which I wrote) was stolen from the web. Read more

Feb

14

Billet-doux assignment

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This assignment was inspired by the book, 100 Words for Lovers, that I picked up at Barnes & Noble a few weeks ago.  I gave the assignment to my Delta Writing class (struggling writers) on the last day before February vacation. Most had fun with it, although a few turned their noses up at the idea of writing a “love letter.”

You may question Rule #1. Alas, it’s necessary for this class (not every student, but enough of them).

I gave every student who did the project a 100 under Class Participation for the day.

Read more

Jan

1

Random kitty tankas

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Kitty sits in the window

birds swoop by — ack! ack!

Frustration emerges now.

I want to eat birds!

I want to eat birds!


Hackles rise as space contracts

ears back, bellies shown.

first swipe, then the fur flies fast.

wounds nursed, glass broken

Mommy’s left to sweep.

Jan

1

Thanksgiving

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It’s been so long since I posted — I’ve got a bunch of stuff, including this Thanksgiving acrostic I composed for friends and family.

Turkey day

Have more mashed potatoes and

Apple pie.

No boiled onions please. You

Know I hate them.

Smashed turnips and carrots –

Good stuff.

I‘m going to waddle out of here.

Viewing family photo albums,

I remember

November with

Grammy.

Jan

1

On the beach

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Here’s a series of poems — mostly haiku and tanka — I composed while watching my sister-in-law play beach volleyball in Southern California 2 days after Christmas. Read more

Nov

14

When I’m sick …

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I’m not sure if this should be filed under Teaching or Writing, but needless to say, it wasn’t a good day.


When I’m sick, I get cranky

I want to reach for a hanky,

Or maybe a whip

Instead of a quip

To deal with unruly students.


My tolerance it’s waning.

I know I’m complaining.

But please tell me why –

Or I’ll start to cry –

Why I’m still dealing with unruly students?


Tell me quick ‘fore I snap.

Why I can’t whap

The side of the heads

(God, I want to go back to bed)

Of my bothersome unruly students?

Nov

14

A fall day

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Leaves wafting

from blushing branches

Skitterings in the leaf piles

Delighted peals

Frustrated groans

Rakes once again at the ready

Honks headed south

Burrowing deep

Crunchy white at dawn

Smoky scent

Bus stop drones

Bemoaning

Silent nights

Flakes forthcoming

Aug

10

Ode to an Air Conditioner

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Clank, whirr! Clank, whirr! Read more

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