skating lessons

Her skates glide over the ice,

leaving shavings, carving trails.

The air is cold on her face,

which wears a quiet, focused smile.

She is not graceful yet,

catching her balance before she falls.

No twirls or jumps- in spite of that,

she savors the applause-

of air rushing past her face

as she presses, fast, ahead-

of her skates on the cold ice,

their long laces poorly tied.

Faint memories of Michigan.

Is this the girl she should have been?

A perfect wintry wonderland-

she slips and tries again to stand.

Beneath her, time is frozen,

but she must not be still.

It's not too late to learn-

to find that fearless, frozen girl.

missionary kid

Her heart's a hopeful airport

a thousand strangers scurry through.

She checks their bags and sends them

on their way to somewhere new.

Her mind's a busy airport,

so they try to travel light.

Extra baggage is expensive

and they'd rather skip the line.

Her soul's a lonely airport,

missed connections to reroute,

for every person who comes in

is on their way back out.

morning

I step into the warm, misty morning,

and the air twirls my hair in its fingers.

I kiss you goodbye, and you hold me

like a big bunch of flowers.

Last night's rain clings to my skin,

but the sweet sunlight grips my heart tighter.

I'm learning to listen,

to let myself be loved and be lighter.

candlelight

I turn meat in a pan

and watch the sides brown.

I light a candle

and sit down.

I observe my abode

and think tender thoughts, 

wooden spoons, welcome homes,

winter boots, metal pots.

I cut up some carrots

and make up the bed,

set the table for two,

picture you in my head.

Calm, content

to watch and wait,

to feel the warm glow

of candlelight.

an ode to my first seventh grade class

Last year, on the back of a test, I had my seventh graders write down what animal they were most like and why. Some of their answers (below) were rather poetic and inspired the following ode I mostly wrote last year, but just finished now.

Elsie is a quiet dragon

aching to explode.

A poet in the corner

striking fear into her foes.

Ariela is a trusty horse,

a steady, loyal friend.

Lydia- a soaring hawk,

it's shoulder painted red.

Nathan is an eagle,

flying wild with energy.

Sean, a sleepy, sassy sloth

hanging in a crecopia tree.

Sarah is a cashmere lop

with silky, white-blonde hair.

She lives inside a music box

and dances on the air.

Nora is a wild horse,

a beauty running free-

but never straying far from home,

loyal in liberty.

The first Luke's a quick-witted wolf,

creatively leading his pack.

He howls along to a distant song-

ideas echo back.

The second Luke's an eagle-

to spot him in the sky is rare.

Smart and well-protected,

he flies fearless through the air.

Wendy is a koala,

sleeping soundly in a faraway tree.

Lexi- a six-foot teddy bear

stuffed full with personality.

Noah is a tiger,

kind yet tough and down-to-earth.

Mercedes- a sweet baby alicorn,

full of mystery and mischief.

Jackson is a falcon,

with an eye for detail and beauty.

Declan is a monkey,

swinging sincere from tree to tree.

Portia is a monkey too,

but quite a different kind.

Something's hidden, something dark

is tangled in the vines.

I end with another lonely dragon

wandering through the school.

Ariel, red and filled with fire,

deep in her cave of shining jewels.

The original responses

W: I would be a koala, because they get to sleep up to 20 hours a day.

E: I would choose a dragon so my enemies would run away.

L: Wolf/African wild dog, because family and friends are my strengths and weakness, I swim well and like it, I am quick (witted and walking), man’s best friend, and loyal to friends.

N:  Animal- tiger. Why- fierce and fab, strong, tough.

A: I would be a horse because I feel I am steady and loyal.

N: I would be a wild horse because they are so free and can run very fast and they are very pretty.

S: A cashmere lop (rabbit) because they are very fast and insanely fluffy.

L: A red-shouldered hawk so I could fly.

M: A baby alicorn because I am often very sleepy, like to play, and I am pretty good at getting in trouble.

L: An eagle. First of all because I could fly (duh) and second of all eagles are a protected species so I wouldn’t have to worry about being hunted.

A: I would either be a dragon or a dog because I am a hoarder of stuff and because I am a follower.

L: A six foot tall stuffed bear.

D: A monkey because I’m funny and sometimes annoying.

P: I would be a monkey because they are crazy and put on masks like me.

J: I would be a peregrine falcon because they are super fast. I would also be a mockingbird so I could mock Sean.

S: I would be a sloth because I would get to live in trees and sleep a lot.

N: I want to be eagle because I really want to fly and eagle has great skills for hunting.

blending

The sun kissed my face and my shoulders with light, 

leaving cookie dough spots on my skin, ice cream white.

The wind tossed my hair, like the sea, into waves

leaving stormy swirls only a sailor could brave.

The sky filled my eyes with a curious blue,

leaving calm pools of color for you to walk through.

So step into me slowly, swim into the sea.

Hold my face, like the sun, in your hands tenderly.

Then sweeter and bolder, both splashing and still,

we'll find beauty in the colors, the blending of wills.

foundation

Profuse are the kisses of an enemy,
but faithful are the wounds of a friend.
If you love me, speak to me plainly.
Tell me what's truly on your mind.

Though it may cause some present pain,
the outcome is my trust.
I rest secure in your embrace
when I know your love is honest-

that it can see my many faults,
but doesn't find me ugly.
Your faithful wounds help me to heal-
to make lovelier what's already lovely.


"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." Romans 12:9-13