A quick post this morning as I dash off to teach 5th graders at The Hilliard Museum. The museums in Lafayette are hosting 5th graders this month, and I have the privilege of doing the creative writing portion of their tour. It’s fun to be teaching again.
Susan Thomsen challenged poet-teacher folks to write after Donika Kelly’s poem “Poem to Remind Myself of the Natural Order of Things.” The challenge was to write about a popular viral video, but I went rogue and wrote a poem to remind myself why I retired.
This was a quick draft in the early pre-dawn hour.
Poem to Remind Myself of the Reason I Retired
after Donika Kelly
Observe the sun rise
over the bayou where water
evaporates into a misty cloud.
Open the door to the scent
of sweet olive and look
for a chickadee nest.
Call your daughter
while she drives to work.
She has time to talk honestly
without background kid noise.
She speaks the words,
“I love you.”
O Margaret, you are still yourself.
Margaret Simon, draft
Reflections on the Teche 
Perfection! Hooray for early morning drafts and for that last line. Everything seems to have changed, but we have NOT. (Or if we have/are, it’s in a positive way!!!)
Beautiful images, Margaret, and your last line speaks volumes. Thanks for sharing and I hope you have fun today.
I am really enjoying being with kids again. This museum work is inspiring.
What a beautiful poem and testament to the more open hours and spirit of “retirement”, Margaret!
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After a couple of years into retirement, I have to remind myself of who I am. And yet, I wouldn’t want to go back to it everyday. Think of what I’d miss. I rarely had the time/took the time to observe around me and appreciate those moments.
Thanks. I am finally feeling like I know what I’m doing. A little of this and a little of that, but without all the stress of day to day teaching.
How much do I love the reminder that the love of others is what grounds us in ourselves.
May we be that reminder to someone else. This is lovely, Ms. Margaret.
Oh, that last line got me! I have been contemplating how different my school life is from my retired life and your lovely poem reminded me of a few things I had forgotten! Thank you!
Great ending, Margaret. The whole poem is loving and reassuring. Glad you are bringing those creative writing skills to the kids today 🙂
Oh, Margaret, I love this bit of real life…and that you are still yourself. Thank goodness. Can’t wait to hear how the teaching went!
Now that’s a poem from the heart, Margaret – so lovely!! Lucky kids at the museum, too; an occasional foray into those kinds of teaching adventures seems perfect. :0) — Robyn HB
Margaret, I have so many thoughts about the poem you shared today. First, I am envious of your opportunity to teach 5th graders in a creative writing experience at a local museum. That sounds wonderful! Also, it is good to remind yourself of the reasons you had to retire. I think sometimes we have to do that. I know when I was younger, I had a nurse practitioner job at a private practice that I really didn’t like. I had to force myself to drive there in the morning and not keep going. It’s good to have reasons for what we do.
Margaret, this is lovely. I love the way you come back to yourself, the you-that-is-you of the ending.
Margaret, what a sweet reminder poem for you. Yes, indeed. “You are still yourself.” I’m glad you got to teach this month and that you have more time now for daughter conversations and quiet nature moments.
I love that you end with yourself in that final line. I can’t honestly imagine being retired. I’m perhaps a wee bit envious of the expanse of time alluded to in your poem (though I know you are busy!). I also love that you’re still putting yourself out there and enriching the lives of children. Your museum gig sounds wonderful!
Yes, to being ourselves, and nature too! Hope you enjoyed your teaching!
I savor the words of your poetry as you think about your decision to retire and have found the balance of more time with the threads of connection still to the work that you enjoy – – writing and being Mamere. I will miss seeing you at NCTE this year and am so thrilled about your new board book.
Thanks so much for your support. I will miss you at NCTE . This will likely be my last year.