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Archive for the ‘Slice of Life’ Category

On Writing

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, tagged , , on March 23, 2012| 5 Comments »

Read other Slice of Life writers at The Two Writing Teachers

This Slice of Life Challenge has been like an online class, writing community, support group all in one neat package.  The inspirations I have gotten, along with teaching ideas and life lessons, have been invaluable to me.  Another slicer did a book spine poem.  See Teacher Dance.  Like the villanelle, this was a new one for me.  I can’t wait to try it with my students and watch them pull books off the shelf.  A creative use of the classroom library.  Will the librarian allow us to do it in the school library?

Creating my own book spine poem, I stacked some of my books about writing.  We writers collect books that give us advice.  Some of my books are about my own personal writing, some for teaching writing.  I sculpted the stack to try to make the titles work together, but I still wanted to insert text.  Reminds me of working with paste pot poetry or magnetic poetry.

For more information on the book spine cento challenge, check out this blog:  100 Scope Notes.

Word weaving
into one writer's beginnings
awakening the heart and my
wild mind.
The muses among us inspire
the right to write.
Now I am writing brave & free.
Everything is illuminated!

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Believing Impossible Things

Posted in Slice of Life, tagged , , on March 21, 2012| 3 Comments »

Read other Slice of Life writers at The Two Writing Teachers

“I can’t believe that!” said Alice.

“Can’t you?” the queen said in a pitying tone. “Try again, draw a long breath, and shut your eyes.”
Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said. “One can’t believe impossible things.”
“I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
 —Lewis Carroll
Six impossible things I believed before breakfast:
1. That the storm would pass us by.
2. That passionate teaching overrules political propaganda.
3. That every child will be treated fairly.
4. That my students will always love learning.
5. That standardized testing will not suck all creativity out of the curriculum.
6. That my writing may inspire.
This blog post was inspired by T. Blauvelt.

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Windy Day Villanelle

Posted in Slice of Life, tagged , , on March 20, 2012| 6 Comments »

Windy Day Villanelle

Walking through the wind today,
companion to my wandering mind
I circle back to the place we play.

As the horsehair mosses sway,
I follow the scent of air I find
walking with the wind today.

Welcoming warmth from the bright sun’s ray,
empty rope swings spin, rewind,
I circle back to the place they play.

Thrashing branches block the way
while harmonic chimes are kind
listening to the wind today.

Fresh green cypress trees display
colors chameleon changes blind
while I circle back to the place we play.

The dog runs fast hoping we’ll stay
suspending the time we left behind
walking through the wind today,
I circle back to the place we play.

The villanelle challenge was inspired by fellow Slicers, Maya and Paul.

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Wisteria Welcome

Posted in Slice of Life, tagged , , on March 19, 2012| 3 Comments »

This wisteria vine grows outside my bedroom window and blossoms each spring.  It never ceases to surprise and inspire me.  My husband hates the vine for its invasiveness.  In the summer, it sends out tendrils that cover the walkway and the crepe myrtle next to it.  Nevertheless, I beg its forgiveness and continue to save its life.  The beauty is sacred to me and food for the bees.  I wrote a little haiku.

wisteria wakes

a scented hello to bees

whispers welcome spring

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Zydeco Trouble

Posted in Slice of Life, tagged , , , on March 18, 2012| 4 Comments »

Here down South in Bayou country, we like our Zydeco.  Today at Vermilionville, we danced the two-step and jitterbug to a new band Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble.  What a treat to see a young boy playing the washboard (or rub-board) like the music was in his soul and had to come out.  I stopped his young mother to ask her if I could video him.  Looking proud, she told me Cam’ron is six-years-old, her first cousin is Curley, and Cam’ron has already been on the front page of The Times.  (I think she meant The Times of Acadiana.)  Cam’ron is heading for fame!

Zydeco literally means in Cajun French, leh-zy-dee-co sohn pah salay, “the beans have no salt.”  Made popular by the legendary “King of Zydeco” Clifton Chenier, the combination of Cajun, Creole, R&B, jazz, and blues sound includes an upbeat rhythm played traditionally on an accordion and a washboard.

When I asked Cam’ron’s mother if he was learning to play the accordion, she said, “He’s been pullin’ some.”

Today, we decided that a little trouble can be a good thing.

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Taking the Country Road

Posted in Slice of Life, tagged , on March 16, 2012| 5 Comments »


Taking the country road
where the sky goes on
forever,
white pillow puff clouds
overhead, and
sugarcane fields
sprouting fresh green shoots.

Sometimes, I take this country road,
long and meandering.
Meadows of miniature ponies,
weathered barns,
and banks of goldenrod
draw my weary mind
to a peaceful place.

Today, I think I’ll take the country road.

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The Love of Little Things

Posted in Slice of Life, tagged , , on March 15, 2012| 8 Comments »

The Love of Little Things: Another little slice of life (#15)

Teeny tiny tree frog
surprised me on the door frame,

Made me think about
the little things,
the not so noticed, everyday things
that matter only to me

The little folk art man–
a gift from a friend for a time
when I needed
a little man to watch over me.

The little blossoms on the grapefruit tree,
a bountiful blossoming
we’ll have fruit to give away
next winter.

The smallest of all,
confetti, hand-colored scraps of paper
folded up intentionally
in a love letter from a first grader
wrapped with a hug.

Tiny treasures
symbols of simple
love.

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Friends to Write With

Posted in Slice of Life, tagged , on March 14, 2012| 9 Comments »

Ever since I attended the National Writing Project’s Summer Institute 17 years ago, I have been in a writing group. These groups have evolved and dissolved, but I still work together with other writers in some way to hone my craft. But most of all, a writing group gives me a community of writers. We share our greatest strengths and our weaknesses. Our goal is not necessarily for publication; it is more one of affirmation. We respect each others’ unique styles. We talk about little things like comma placement, and big things like theme development. We have met in coffee shops, bookstores, restaurants, and homes. No matter where we meet, writing becomes the focus.
Writing groups are invaluable to me. The friends I have here are somehow closer to me, more intimate because they read what I write. Respect is the number one rule; although, we never have to speak that one. We do critique, but usually with a soft hand.

Most recently I am in a writing group with my friend Stephanie and my mother-in-law. Yes, my mother-in-law. Besides being one of my best friends, she has been a judge for 27 years and is now writing crime novels. Neither Stephanie nor Minga (her grandmother name) write in the same genre I do. But it works. The poet in me likes to cut out extra words. Yesterday, I was dubbed “the it police.” It’s amazing how many times you can use it and not even notice it. And it’s not really necessary:)

Finally, I would like to plug two books from my writing group friends. Stephanie is working on a young adult series called The Saga of the Setti. Paranormal stuff that I don’t usually read, but her first novel Rising held my intrigued because she made me care about her teen-aged characters. Written in two voices, Gabe and Clara, Stephanie sends us into an apocalyptic time where teens have special powers. It’s available on Amazon. There’s also an inexpensive Kindle version.

The second is by my friend Dianne Dempsey-Legnon. Dianne grew up in the heart of the Cajun culture. With her book Belair Cove, she captures this culture while telling the fictionalized version of her grandparents’ love story.

I am very proud of my writing group friends and hope to join the world of publishing myself soon. That’s news for another blog.

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A Soft Place to Land

Posted in Slice of Life, tagged , , on March 13, 2012| 9 Comments »

Slice of Life #12

We are a household of cats

refugee cats
cats rescued from car tracks
and kids’ antics.

Here’s Sammy, three legs, one eye
hanging out in his “office” space,
in a cabinet not used for food.
My husband calls it the Japanese apartment.

And then there’s Buzz.
(Say Buzz in a deep voice cause Buzz is Big!)
Buzz hangs out in small spaces, curling over his big belly body,
in planters

and even in my favorite serving bowl.

Then there’s Bill
(say Bill in a high-pitched voice because he has a high-pitched voice.)
Bill will sleep on anything soft,
moving blankets, grocery bags, and a fresh pile of laundry.

Our cats have all come to a better place, heaven on the bayou,
a soft place to land.

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Why I Write

Posted in Slice of Life on March 12, 2012| 9 Comments »

I borrowed this list poem idea from a fellow Slicer: Meandering Maya

Why I Write: Slice 12 0f 31

I write while I’m doing the laundry,
or cooking a meal,
or grading papers.
I write as my dog curls up in my lap
(I love the comfort of his warm curls.)
I write to show students how.
I write to show students they can.
I write because I need courage.
I write because it gives me courage,
and a voice, and a reason for
writing.
I write to tell you about my life.
I write to tell me about my life.
I write to discover a new world,
a new character,
or to build a story,
or to find a story.
I write to impress,
yes,
I said it.
I write to have something to show for it.
I write to connect to others.
I write to take myself away from it all.
I write to belong.

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