From A Fan

Okay, okay, I admit I’m a fan,
Of the mammary gland,
And I do find them very appealing,
I try to be discreet, and to stare at my feet,
Or I glance,
But then  look at the ceiling,
It’s just so frustrating,
Cuz they’re so fascinating,
All those breasts, apple,  pear-shaped, or conal!
I don’t mean disrespect,
I may have a defect,
In fact I think that it may be hormonal!

 

Right here, right now

We’re deeper than we know
If we can only let go
Of the present,
Our thoughts
Our judgments
Unrelenting
Preventing us
From being here and now,
Somehow
Experiencing
The moment,
That we’re in,
Physical sensations
On our skin,
Not yesterday
And all of its regret,
Nor tomorrow
And all that’s not happened yet,
But right here, right now,
And what it has to say,
Because one foot in tomorrow,
And one in yesterday,
Means you just end up pissing on today.

Teachers Know – a personal application letter

Dear Sir or Madam,

Sometimes it’s hard to be a teacher. You have to deal with stressed out parents, students, colleagues, and administrators. At times it’s a completely thankless job, and you feel undervalued and under-appreciated. It’s like that most of the time, in fact.

Yet, for all of those moments where you find yourself sitting on your couch crying after a really difficult day, there are those other moments that make it all worthwhile.

Those moments are why I have been a teacher for fifteen years. When I see a student’s face light up like a pinball machine, I know I have reached him or her. The kind of joy a teacher feels at those moments can’t really be described, but teachers know. Only teachers know.

When it comes down to it, teaching is about the students. It’s not about meetings, and exams, and statistics. It’s about helping students to see, and to understand, and to think, and to learn, and to create. If I have only the slightest effect on the future of young people, then I consider it a job well done. I take that responsibility very seriously.

Sometimes it’s hard to be a teacher. You have to really want to do it. You have to care. You have to realize that nothing is more important.

Yours sincerely,

Gwen Maddy

Turkish Impressions

Welcome to the land that’s called Turkey,
With curbs that come up to your knee,
Where a gajillion dogs and cats run free,
With ruins from 200 A.D.,
Where you can buy a neon green Jack Daniels tee,
From salesmen who won’t let you be,
I say salesMEN deliberately,
For Turkey hides its femininity,
But not its palm or olive tree,
And the ficus back home that grows timidly,
In Turkey grows wild and strong and free,
What’s more?
Well they drive a little crazy,
And oddly enough,
There’s no good coffee!