Reflections on the Teche

Slice of Life: Small Problems

December 3, 2024 by margaretsmn

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write and share.

How do you deal with small problems? I tried so hard to walk in gratitude this morning, but Albert pulled constantly on the leash and wanted to pee on everything, so I lost my patience. Then once we were home, he got out, off-the-leash, and chased the cats. I was so mad that I screamed the f bomb at him and put him into his kennel…forever!

This is not how I wish to start my day. I want to find peace. I want to drink a hot cup of coffee and read poems.

Thanksgiving break for me was a whirlwind of travel and then family. All great things! Yet yesterday at school, our first day back after the week off, three students were brought to tears. For different reasons, the stress of following directions, the stress of “let’s relate to the character in a deeper way”, and the stress of “I went camping and forget to take my book with me.” It seems to me that kids in general (myself included) do not handle stress as we used to.

What are some ways you handle the little things? I anticipated this time of pre-Christmas frenzy. But it doesn’t help when you are deep into it.

I know that I am okay and normal and my dog is “just a puppy!” Thanks for being here with me on the good days and the bad. As Alexander’s mom wisely said, “Some days are like that. Even in Australia.”

Posted in Slice of Life, Teaching | 7 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Lobster Trap Tree

November 27, 2024 by margaretsmn

As we end our vacation in Portland, Maine, we found the best place to eat lobster, Luke’s. Outside the restaurant on a peer overlooking the Old Port Harbor, there was a young boy putting finishing touches on the huge stack of lobster traps turned Christmas tree.

As we head back home to Louisiana for big family Thanksgiving, we are grateful for this time to relax and enjoy a different place in the world.

I invite you to leave a small poem of gratitude today.

An ordinary trap

Becomes a beacon of light

For traveling mercies

Margaret Simon, draft

Posted in Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Travel, Writing | Tagged #poemsofpresence, #smallpoems, This Photo Wants to be a Poem | 9 Comments »

Slice of Life: Novel Coffee

November 26, 2024 by margaretsmn

My husband and I are on vacation in Portland, Maine. On Sunday my dear friend and fellow Inkling (writing group) Molly Hogan and her husband Kurt took us to the most photographed lighthouse.

The views were incredible, but the best part was seeing Molly in person and getting to know her husband. We talked for hours.

The highlight of our time here yesterday was the ferry cruise. We happened upon a ride that carries supplies and mail to the islands. There was a young man who did everything, and one of his jobs was to find us and tell us stuff about the islands. I’m guessing in the winter months there are fewer tourists.

I like some alone time in any given day, so after shopping at Reny’s (Molly was right; we found good deals), Jeff dropped me at the Novel coffee shop where one can read and have coffee. I picked up a copy of a book I didn’t know existed about a poem that few knew existed.

Walt Whitman’s Live Oak, with Moss is not the poem you think it is. The papers he wrote the poem on were torn and put back together into other more acceptable poems. Originally Whitman was writing a love poem to a man (or men).

The book drew me right in and I read it on the spot. Brian Selznick took an idea he had discussed with Maurice Sendak to illustrate the long hidden poem. Sendak never had the chance.

Here are some pages:

In every vacation there are the things you plan and the happy happenstances. This little treasure was waiting for me, I believe.

Happy Thanksgiving! May you find a small moment to treasure in your heart.

Posted in Gratitude, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged Maine, Molly Hogan, Portland, Travel | 16 Comments »

Poetry Friday: My Place in the World

November 23, 2024 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday is gathered by Ruth at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town.

My students and I are reading Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. In the book, there is a poem “On the Road with Arley” that begins with line “Here’s the way I figure it, my place in the world is at the piano.” It’s been fun to find music of the time period and write alongside it. My students worked hard to create poems using this beginning line. I asked them to use imagery to create a tone. I wrote a model poem about my place in the world.

In a Canoe

Here’s the way I figure it,
my place in the world is
on the bayou
lazing about in a canoe
with you.

I’m just a mamere
wanting the best time
to be outside
watching for eagles
slipping through slow current
listening for Mr. Owl
to cook-cook-for-you!

My place is in open toes
among cypress knees
sniffing catfish air
hearing cicadas buzz
when the sun goes down.

Here’s the way I figure it,
my place in the world
is in a canoe with you.

Margaret Simon, draft

Photo by Nitin Arya on Pexels.com

Here’s the way I figure it,
my place in the world is
out of it.

My place is in a different place,
far away from here.
In a mythical world,
or one that is crumbling
even more than mine is.

With my favorite characters
I venture
for escape.
Escape.
My feet will beat the ground,

in my head a pound,
and then I settle down.
In a bed or a chair,
I wind

wind

wind

down.

I read, and I am free.

Here’s the way I figure it,
my place in the world is
seeking distraction from it.

Adelyn, 6th grade

Where is your place in the world?

Posted in being mamére, Gifted Education, Poetry Friday, Writing | Tagged "my place in the world" poem, #bayoulife, #beingmamére, student poetry | 11 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Tricks of Nature

November 20, 2024 by margaretsmn

I noticed this mushroom in the grass and how in its disintegrating process, it looked like a butterfly, but on closer examination, there is a small worm crawling that camouflaged as the butterfly’s body. Our eyes play tricks on us all the time. Think about what you see and contrast that to what’s not actually there that you may imagine you see. Share a small poem in the comments.

Filaments of brown
turn mushroom inside out
peaceful inclusion

Posted in nature, Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem | Tagged #poemsofpresence, #smallpoems, This Photo Wants to be a Poem | 34 Comments »

Slice of Life: Name Acrostic Best and Worst

November 19, 2024 by margaretsmn

Today I am envious of all the hype leading up to NCTE because I won’t be going for the first time in ten years. I hope all of you who are attending have a wonderful conference and send out some ELA love into the universe.

This morning Emily led the Ethical ELA Open Write with an invitation to write an acrostic about the best and the worst of yourself. I usually avoid looking too closely in the mirror for fear of what I might see. And of course, I have a long name with repeated letters that added an even harder challenge, but this is what I got in the wee dark hours of the morning.

At my best,

Mood smooth like malbec wine
A steady
Rock you can lean on
Grounded in my faith
Alert to nature
Ready for a long talk
Empathetic with my tears
Trust me with your pain.

At my worst,

Moody
Arrogantly
Reserved
Guarding my soul
Assailed by doubt
Reactive
Enneagram four evading reality
Torturing myself…

But I’ll always love you with intensity.

Posted in Poetry, Writing | Tagged acrostic, Ethical ELA, name acrostic | 5 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Perspective

November 15, 2024 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday is hosted by Karen Edmisten.

With my students, I am using the recent Ethical ELA book 90 Ways of Community for writing prompts. This week we used two different prompts. The first was from Leilya Pitre about taking a break, a walk, and writing a narrative poem.

Veteran’s Day Walk

Finally, a chilly wind
blows my white hair
into my eyes
reminding me that winter
is on its way.

Leaves dapple the playground mulch
like confetti left over from a football game.
This is how fall is…
coming in on a wind
soothing my severed soul
into a peaceful,
place of presence.

Margaret Simon, draft

The second prompt I used was from Jodi Opager asking us to step into the shoes of another person or object. Avalyn has been exploring putting tone and emotion into her poems. She wrote from the POV of the TV. This poem she wrote breaks my heart for her, but she assures me that she is OK and handling things.

Broken Memories

I turn on again
watching the mom
and her daughter.

I remember it
as clear as day.

I remember how the daughter cried
because her mom was fussing
for the third time
that day.

I remember how the dad
stomped upstairs
packed his bags
and left

but everything was fuzzy
because now
I sit in the hallway
empty
dead
waiting to be fixed.

by Avalyn, 5th grade

My sister texted me this photo of my mother from the 70’s. I remember this photo and that my mother was pretending to sleep. My perspective writing is from her point of view with memories of a life full of love.

I remember holding Raggedy Ann
pretending to sleep
next to you
after story time.

I remember riding in the backseat
of the Delta 88 because you
got carsick through the curves
of Zion National Park.

I remember roses blooming
on the “island” alongside our cypress tree,
how your father sketched all day
watching our heron fishing.

I remember you
when you come,
I smile and say,
Thank you.

Margaret Simon, draft

Posted in Poetry Friday, Teaching, Writing | 12 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Butterfly, Again

November 13, 2024 by margaretsmn

Newly emerged Gulf Fritillary by Margaret Simon

I’ve been raising Gulf Fritillaries in a butterfly enclosure. One day this week we came into the classroom to find one butterfly and within minutes, like magic, there were three. Unlike monarchs, these seem to just pop out in seconds. We haven’t witness the emerging yet.

I am participating in Mary Lee Hahn’s #haikuforhealing on Instagram. This is a way to put beauty out into the world. Join me and my students today writing about the miracles of nature.

Open your wings
Flutter in sacred silence
Then let go and fly

@Margaret Simon

Posted in Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem | Tagged #haikuforhealing, #poemsofpresence, This Photo Wants to be a Poem | 26 Comments »

Slice of Life: Book Character Day

November 12, 2024 by margaretsmn

I teach at two schools, so I have a hard time keeping up with special dress-up days on the calendar. Yesterday, I got a free dress coupon from my second school, so yay! I could wear jeans and a t-shirt. I chose my Peter Reynold’s Dot Day t-shirt and my happy face sweater.

In morning carpool duty, I opened doors to Harry Potters and Belles. I asked my colleague what was going on. He said it was Book Character Day. Ha, serendipity! I was dressed as The Dot!

My classroom bulletin board quote from “The Dot.”

Posted in Slice of Life, Teaching, Writing | Tagged Book Character Day, Peter Reynolds, The Dot | 9 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Ode to the Satsuma

November 8, 2024 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Cathy at Merely Day by Day

With my fifth and sixth grade students, I am reading Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. I’m amazed at the parallels of the Dust Bowl to our current climate crisis in Louisiana, but that is a post for another time. Today I am determined to focus on beauty.

The poem Apple Blossoms was our mentor text. I wrote alongside my students about our favorite fruits. Mine is currently overflowing on a tree in our backyard, the satsuma.

Ode to the Satsuma

after Karen Hesse “Apple Blossoms” Out of the Dust

Not just an orange,
you are the ultimate
citrus,
hanging like golden ornaments
on our tree near the fence
where butterflies play
and spiders web.

Your easy-to-peel goodness
makes anticipation grow
in fall, until by Halloween,
the tree is full, overflowing, drooping, dripping
inviting me to basket
a gift for you
to share juicy sweetness
and smile!

Margaret Simon, draft

Posted in Gratitude, Poetry, Poetry Friday, Teaching | Tagged #poemsofpresence, Louisiana fruit, ode, satsumas | 16 Comments »

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