Warm inside the flower-seller’s tent
where I hide from the cold
stretching out my intent
to eventually purchase
a flower or two
but only after inspecting each plant through and through
as the seller harangues with his jovial taunt
I say with a smile….
“when I see it well then I’ll know just what I want!”
but after a while his tone becomes terse
so I finally take the few coins in my purse
and gladiolas in hand, with my last money spent
I return to the cold from the flower-seller’s tent.
Coffee Shop Philosophy
Coffee shop philosophy
Spilling over from the table beside me
As I grab a sandwich before grocery shopping,
Talk of dualism, quotes from Lao Tsu, cocky existentialism and young man’s posturing gushing forth from the guy with a radio voice.
My coffee makes me giggle.
Out of the Blue
Out of the blue, you came.
I lay dormant in the dark,
Hidden deep inside myself.
Until you reached in and found me,
Released me, pulled me out.
And filled me up with your sunshine.
One Thought
Just one thought that keeps me strong,
And helps me sleep at night,
I may have gotten some things wrong,
But I’ve gotten much more right.
Longing
Suckle me
Take me to your bosom
And let me drink from life
Whilst enveloping me in warmth and acceptance
Release me directly into the moment
Where nothing else exists
Except that oneness
That complete abandon
That divine connection.
Suckle me.
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!
So, here I go.
So, here I go,
Another show,
A smaller younger audience.
Another school,
With different rules,
And different kids and parents.
A whole new task,
A brand new class!
I’ll do my best, but will it last?
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
Plane Talk
Halfway through the flight,
Alcohol’d quenched my thirst,
And an annoying seatmate,
Finally brought out my worst,
At which point I turned
and then viciously burst:
“Donner’s my name,
And if we go down in this plane,
I’m eating you first!
After that her inane need to babble dispersed.
Random Misanthrope 