With my student Chloe, I read the poem Small Kindnesses by Danusha Laméris. I learned about Danusha from a podcast from Poetry Magazine featuring her in conversation with Naomi Shihab Nye (who is also well-known for a poem about Kindness.) Ramona recommended it last week.
Chloe and I talked about all the small kindnesses in the poem. About this line, “…for the driver in the red pick-up truck to let us pass,” she said, “You know, she’s right. Red trucks are the friendliest!”
In every school, the custodian is the person you want to know. The poem about small kindnesses reminded me of a custodian at one of my schools. She is always dressed in bright colors with a wonderful head wrap and mask to match. She calls everyone “Love.” When I told this to Chloe, she gave me a word list around the topic of sun from her poetry writing journal Write the Poem. The list included effulgence which we both needed to Google. (Effulgence is brightness taken to the extreme.) My poem uses lines from Danusha, the word from Chloe, and the kindness that I almost forgot to notice had I not needed something to write about.
I’ve been thinking about the way when I walk
the school hallways, it’s always the custodian
who speaks. Excuse me, I say as I weave around
her heavy trash bin
that squeaks, rumbles and roars.She calls after me, Have a nice day, Love!
Margaret Simon, after Danusha Laméris
Radiant as the sun itself, her yellow t-shirt
and rainbow leggings light my path.
Even her scent is effulgent, shouting warmth
of kindness, a hug for my hurried day.
Mostly, we want to greet each other
with glowing smiles. To slip a scented flower
beneath the doorway,
like a spritz of perfume, leave kindness
on someone else’s path.
What small kindnesses are you noticing?
Reflections on the Teche 
What a lovely ode to your custodian. She sounds like a lady who impacts everyone around her. You capture her jubilant essence so beautifully in the sunny words of your poem. Lovely!
What a great word. Effulgent. Got to write that one down. And this poet. New to me another thing to look up and collect. And the love your custodian effulgently emits is worth emulating!
What a great word! I am so glad you are appreciating the important role of custodians who really do keep schools safe and open!
Margaret, what a wonderful poem, and what a wonderful story behind it! I was struck by your last stanza because I think that, yes, we do want to greet and be greeted by the people we encounter. Well, I do anyway. I love it when a student returns my greetings; not only because I like to be greeted, but because it’s oftentimes returned with a smile as well. Thank you for sharing this!
I love your ‘backstory’, too, Margaret, & the poem is the sweetest message. I love the ending, a mantra for us all: “leave kindness/on someone else’s path.”
Wow! What a lovely poem. You painted a beautiful picture with your words.
I love this! The inspiration and the collaboration and the beautiful appreciation of a very important person in any school!
Kim
A new word inspired by a custodian! Those who take such good care of us are usually the most effulgent. Our custodian is a gem also. He is over the top brightness and we are extremely blessed to have him spreading smiles all over campus
“…a hug for my hurried day.” I think those simple friendly contacts are what I’ve missed most this past year. I love the pic you created of your ebullient custodian.
This is lovely, such a thoughtful poem for a delightful person. Custodians are so often not acknowledged enough and yet they are part of the backbone of a school and yours is always cheerful, I like her kindness being compared to a hug.
Thank you for this lovely reminder to notice the small kindnesses all around us, and to leave our own “on someone else’s path.” I hope you share your “hug” of a poem with your “radiant” custodian!
Narrative and poetry….always a delightful duo.
sensitive poem Margaret, I love your last stanza and the backstory to your poem, thanks!
My comment left these words out at the beginning:
Gorgeous and
Margaret, this is lovely…a collaboration of words and spirit. There’s in custodian in my school named Marta and I love her. You make me want to write a poem about her. Wonderful post today! Thank you.
Delightful poem! I still remember Steve, the custodian at my kids’ elementary school. And I remember talking about a cashier who calls us all “mi amor.” (https://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/2018/07/grace.html) Those little interactions have been prevented by the pandemic. I hope we are all a bit kinder when we get a chance to have them again!
Such a wonderful poem! I hope you shared it with her! (Chloe sounds like a delight.) Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Oh yes, kindness, no matter how small is never wasted, right? I love that we can be surrounded by those whose bright hearts shine through with GOOD MORNING, LOVE and HAVE A GREAT DAY and really mean it. YES! We need to appreciate kindness, model it, pass it on and honor it like your lovely poem does today! I bet your students would have some wonderful insight into kindess!!!
Lovely poem. THose last lines will stay with me–leave kindness on someone else’s path.
Glad to hear about the friendly red pick-up trucks in your area. Unfortunately I have quite a different impression of red pick-ups here in Florida. Your post and poem, however, are real cheerer-uppers, Margaret! Thank you for that kindness, my friend.