Rainy Day Saturday Led to Position Time in the Grading Chair (& Even an Unexpected Nap). Enjoyed the Morning Hike, Though

I don't think I've ever know what it is to have a weekend. Teachers spend the weekend catching up and getting ahead, finding every crevice they can to stay on top of their jobs. It's not like you punch out Friday and check back on Monday. Instead, it's chisel away at all the moments you can while feeling overwhelmed that you should also be able to take a break.

I'm getting there, though. Soon classes will end and weekends can be without the constant pile-up of student work. 

The temperature remain cool which may be the reason a nap was in order. They're rare for me, but I know one when it wants to sneak into my home. Most often I resist, but yesterday I gave in, only because I knew I wasn't heading out in the rain at night. I could use that time to grade. 

Only a few more days of #VerseLove (and I'm hearing the THANK GOD from Central New York). Yesterday was a bit of a voluminous task - to write a spoken word piece to be performed on stage. I tapped into ol' Writing Our Lives workshops to edit material. I didn't have it in me to produce something new. I need slower, more low-key performance in April, as the rest of the year is on stage. 

It's still drizzling as I write this, so I don't know what else is in store for the day other than another cup of coffee and to remember to post today's poem. So here I go. 

from Writing Our Lives - #BeFree 

We are not the inhibition.

We are more the exhibition

This sun that brings us power to everything we face.

our contribution, our revolution, to improve the human race 

growing stronger in this nest, while starting to spread these wings, 

working arm and arm together in order to changes some things 

with liberation, concentration, and our own initiation - 

#ToBeFree, a celebration

where this poem may also sing.

We are the fresh air, the mad-hatters, 

the ice-cream, a cantaloupe, 

the intergalactic youth chatter striving 

to live & to cope in this mad  kaleidoscope 

of honey, Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, 

and Earl Gray tea. 

Do, Re, Me, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do.

our linguistic symphony,

undoing these idiotic shackles  - 

ready to step to the Mic,

tiptoeing with imagination through roses, 

& showing ‘em what our lives ‘be’ like,

stopping to smell the two lips

that bring voice to this wireless baton,

releasing negativity from proverbial caves, 

and so on 

and so on 

and so on.

Teaching one another that language is our power,

bringing souls what it craves without becoming sour,

& lighting an oral fuse with magical wands - WE empower,

transmission, 

amplification, 

exhibition, 

a declaration

that our truth is written for the ignorant to read.… 

Today, we release lyrical birds with what we think & what we bleed,

into this cacophony and harmony, telling ourself to #BeFree, 

You, Me, this dedication

Writing Our Lives, it is the WE.