Poetry Month Day 13: A Win for Standardized Testing

*Special thanks to S.T., whose gratitude for her time together with classmates together inspired today’s poem Dear Standardized Testing, Thank you. Thank you for bringing me these loveys – Thank you for bringing me these loveys – these loveys who miss one another Thank you for bringing me these loveys – these loveys who missContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 13: A Win for Standardized Testing”

Poetry Month Day 12: Why There’s No Poem Today

I was way too tired at the end of the dayfrom running around as the human pawnin a Nintendo game,and I AIN’T FEELIN’ IT. I ran out of good words to stringtogether by ten a.m. andran on fumes ever since then,so I AIN’T FEELIN’ IT. I know that writing is the best wayto express allContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 12: Why There’s No Poem Today”

Sunday Sit-Down #13: All The World

Each Sunday, I’m working my way through my experiences with race. I’ll share stories and memories from throughout my life. I know I’ll encounter moments of growth that I wish I could relive. I’ll also have to think back on choices that I wish I could remake. Come join me each week. All the worldContinue reading “Sunday Sit-Down #13: All The World”

Poetry Month Day 10: The Work is Great

Today, I had the privilege of working again with other leaders from my Just Schools Cohort. Together, we’re working across districts to advance equity and justice in schools. This team of professionals…they’re amazing. And even on days where I feel discouraged about my own work, and my own progress, they are there to remind meContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 10: The Work is Great”

Poetry Month Day 9: Humor, Badly Timed

Humor.It’s all timing and audience. The feeling of having a jokethat is absolutelyhystericalbut having to one to tell it towell that’s rough. I mean, I knowwhat I’m saying is WILDLY inappropriate.Maybe even dark.It’s alsoreally freakin’ FUNNY. And I can’t even laugh as loud as I would if I heard that joke myself because who laughsContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 9: Humor, Badly Timed”

Poetry Month Day 8: On Cockroaches

When you get down to it,We really should likeCockroachesMore than we do.They are evolution’s rock stars,Shining beacons ofPersistence and carrying onAnd all that jazz. I should offer nothing but respectButThe very thought of them scuttling(I can’t picture them doing anything but scuttling)On floorsOver countersInMyPANTRYIs enough to send mePast the heebiesInto the full-on jeebies AndI knowContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 8: On Cockroaches”

Poetry Month Day 7: A Little Mischief

Today, I took the poem I wrote yesterday, printed up a copy, and pasted it up on the wall right next to the chocolate stash that was my inspiration. I had FUN with it. So…tomorrow, and maybe the next day (or the next), I’m going to put up poems in random spots for my colleaguesContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 7: A Little Mischief”

Poetry Month Day 6: On the Natural (Dis)Order

You could say this poem is a continuation of my reflections for the Slice of Life challenge about the need for a strong, steady chocolate stash in a school. I stand by what I wrote, even if my observations this week speak to the contrary. Clearlythere is a problemin our world:there is some kind ofimbalancewithinContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 6: On the Natural (Dis)Order”

Sunday Sit-Down #12: The Floodgates Open

Each Sunday, I’m working my way through my experiences with race. I’ll share stories and memories from throughout my life. I know I’ll encounter moments of growth that I wish I could relive. I’ll also have to think back on choices that I wish I could remake. Given that April is also poetry month, I’mContinue reading “Sunday Sit-Down #12: The Floodgates Open”

Poetry Month Day 3: On Birthdays

Birthdaysshould be markedby cake and ice cream,Instagram posts and Facebook wishesOr texts, the kind with heartsAnd balloonsAnd silly memes butthis time next time every time I’d settleforanything that fills the absence. I draft and scribble out poems in my head: a catalog of today’s distractions our conversation in the sun today the four times IContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 3: On Birthdays”