tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post9053041994129673731..comments2023-11-03T05:59:46.763-04:00Comments on Keeping Secrets: In My SchoolKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12003379181294550035noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-43517047029595875662009-02-23T18:30:00.000-05:002009-02-23T18:30:00.000-05:00Hi, Vicki - Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you l...Hi, Vicki - Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you liked it. My thoughts are still with you.<BR/><BR/>Vesper - Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad you liked the poem. It is true, isn't it, that when we're children we don't know there's anything outside of us. Again, sometimes I think it would be bliss to protect children from the knowledge of what is beyond...Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003379181294550035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-26898184786518938962009-02-22T22:42:00.000-05:002009-02-22T22:42:00.000-05:00we never know as kidswe’re not the world;we never ...<I>we never know as kids<BR/>we’re not the world;<BR/>we never know that<BR/>there is any other way</I><BR/>These lines break my heart, Karen, they are so true and so immensely sad... Something to always remember when we are with our small children.<BR/><BR/>I love the whole poem, the atmosphere that you created here is extraordinary...Vesperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12417602625059442986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-58885489475982576892009-02-21T07:48:00.000-05:002009-02-21T07:48:00.000-05:00Oh i ~love~ this piece <3Oh i ~love~ this piece <3nollyposhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13205974328143335552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-80141661899124379372009-02-19T14:51:00.000-05:002009-02-19T14:51:00.000-05:00No doubting, Karen...you really do have a gift. I ...No doubting, Karen...you really do have a gift. I always look forward to seeing what you have that's new for us. :)Sarah Hinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13888406261817690010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-37223148392274436252009-02-17T17:44:00.000-05:002009-02-17T17:44:00.000-05:00Jana - Thank you, and thanks for the idea. Your li...Jana - Thank you, and thanks for the idea. Your line about simplicty really struck me. Maybe it's not such a bad thing. Thoreau might have had something there. ;)<BR/><BR/>Jaoquin - That's how all the boys I knew made their tatoos, too. I always thought of them as "jailhouse" tatoos, because many of those guys ended up there (sadly). I agree that it takes a while to learn we aren't "the" world, especially when we've been so insulated from other worlds. I've spent my life in schools, but I've always argued that school is not the world in microcosm.<BR/><BR/>laughingwolf - I'm so glad this recalled those days for you. Hope they were good ones.<BR/><BR/>Kat - I'm waiting for yours, and I'm headed over now!Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003379181294550035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-64296166759184507842009-02-17T13:04:00.000-05:002009-02-17T13:04:00.000-05:00Karen, I haven't done my version yet, but there ar...Karen, I haven't done my version yet, but there are a few things I'd like you to check out at Invisible Keepsakes.<BR/><BR/>KatKat Mortensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16877694888419628533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-26203798797178185762009-02-16T18:58:00.000-05:002009-02-16T18:58:00.000-05:00other than i attended classes of single grades, th...other than i attended classes of single grades, this is very reminiscent of my school days, too <BR/><BR/>thx karen...laughingwolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08873675614347328116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-31348662019243021242009-02-16T17:06:00.000-05:002009-02-16T17:06:00.000-05:00"dots from pins and blue-black ink;"my uncle has o..."dots from pins <BR/>and blue-black ink;"<BR/><BR/>my uncle has one of these on his arm - a self-made tattoo he did, bored, in school one day (badly - no telling what it was supposed to be).<BR/><BR/>i love this one - you've brought us to class, sat us next to you - we can relate/respond to every stanza with the images/memories you evoke. and sometimes, i feel like i'm still coming to grips with the last few lines...that my world is not "the" world...funny how it takes leaving school to really apply all those lessons...joaquin carvelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03193680725157157864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-49525416044641771872009-02-15T23:43:00.000-05:002009-02-15T23:43:00.000-05:00Karen - I can't tell you not to doubt yourself bec...Karen - I can't tell you not to doubt yourself because creative types always do, but nothing about your poems are simple. As if simplicity were something terrible anyway. I love the imagery you paint in just a few words. Precise. Succinct. Rich. All vision without the fluff. Your poetry is fantastic!<BR/><BR/>(thanks for the shout out, btw ;))bluesugarpoethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14775769108087898456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-60834836084468243492009-02-15T17:18:00.000-05:002009-02-15T17:18:00.000-05:00Christine - Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you l...Christine - Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you liked it.<BR/><BR/>Julie - Knowing that this could make you smile makes me happy. That's a wonderful compliment. <BR/>You're right, there's something timeless about the school experience. For all we change the tools we use, the feeling is the same. <BR/><BR/>Sarah - Thank you for your comments. I'm suffering a good bit of doubt about whether or not I have anything worth saying, and hearing that you are moved by this makes me think maybe there is a place for simple poems. You've given me a lift. Thank you.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your encouragement.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003379181294550035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-53153585089436986242009-02-15T15:45:00.000-05:002009-02-15T15:45:00.000-05:00So, so seamless and rich in detail, Karen. I could...So, so seamless and rich in detail, Karen. I could feel the chalkiness of that eraser cloud settle on my skin and the pressure to recite the right answer pushing on my chest. Just a beautiful and evocative poem. <BR/><BR/>You conjured an entire universe in that three-room school. And made me want to go back to a place I'd never quite been. :)Sarah Hinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13888406261817690010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-67648319495619426212009-02-14T18:11:00.000-05:002009-02-14T18:11:00.000-05:00BEAUTIFUL! You have so many awesome details here....BEAUTIFUL! You have so many awesome details here. I can smell the teacher's perfume and the stink of the boys. I love that. There really is a certain smell to classrooms, isn't there? And not always so pleasant.<BR/><BR/>I'm not a kid, and some of the experiences are before my time (like three rooms), but I totally get it. I think there is a school experience that many people know...like the lunches, banging the chalk cloud, etc. I think my daughter would relate, too. I do a lot of volunteering in the schools, and some things never change. Like stinky boys...ha! ha! <BR/><BR/>You have so many wonderful images here. I love the hiss of the mittens and scarves, too. You should send this out! It is so beautiful. It's a wonderful poem that made me smile.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14450349194426386685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-74100474503111034852009-02-14T15:37:00.000-05:002009-02-14T15:37:00.000-05:00WOW!!!! What a rockin' poem. I love it! Wow that...WOW!!!! What a rockin' poem. I love it! Wow that was so great.Christine Gramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13783180729146518061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-43130862710141846592009-02-14T11:31:00.000-05:002009-02-14T11:31:00.000-05:00Roberta - Christopher wondered if the young ones w...Roberta - Christopher wondered if the young ones would "get" some of this, but even if they don't, I hope they get the feel for what it was like In My School -- and many of those of this era. <BR/><BR/>My school was the community center for us -- school and church. That was it.<BR/><BR/>Jennifer - One of the wonders of this shared experience is that we can see each other's worlds. Thanks for sharing mine.<BR/><BR/>K. - :)Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003379181294550035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-1175315226488846722009-02-13T16:59:00.000-05:002009-02-13T16:59:00.000-05:00Karen - yes, and just a heartbeat away. <3Karen - yes, and just a heartbeat away. <3K.Lawson Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11204234196229710524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-89803664053605247522009-02-13T15:49:00.000-05:002009-02-13T15:49:00.000-05:00Karen, what a picture you have painted here! This ...Karen, what a picture you have painted here! This was such a treat to read--the images that come effortlessly through (for the reader.) I love it!jazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09559917865938143791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-58744993154724796112009-02-13T13:41:00.000-05:002009-02-13T13:41:00.000-05:00You brought back so many memories I could smell th...You brought back so many memories I could smell the lead pencils and the books. Feel the chalk in the back of my throat. <BR/><BR/>Sugar cubes! We got those at the community center handed out by the Lion's Club after church one Sunday. <BR/><BR/>Another excellent post!Robertahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04225373495317509423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-29765084836516543812009-02-13T13:13:00.000-05:002009-02-13T13:13:00.000-05:00Diane - Thanks for stopping by. RachelW has a fant...Diane - Thanks for stopping by. RachelW has a fantastic poem about school called "Unraveling." I recommend you go over to the waxing moon and read it. She really captures a child's experience in school.<BR/><BR/>Kat - I can't wait to read your version! And, no, I think chalk is mostly a thing of the past -- dry erase markers now.<BR/><BR/>Dave - Thanks. I guess you're right!<BR/><BR/>Cat - Praise from you is high, indeed. Thanks for the lovely comment from one of my must-read friends.<BR/><BR/>Christopher - Yeah, it gets a little depressing when the doctors look like children -- when EVERYONE looks like chidren!<BR/><BR/>Rachel - "Unraveled" still blows me away. Thank you.<BR/><BR/>K. - I wonder if that lining up for sugar was the way it was done everywhere, or if it was only our experience here? I know you can see this poem, just a river apart...Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003379181294550035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-90423108454062964622009-02-12T21:22:00.000-05:002009-02-12T21:22:00.000-05:00"chew pencils thatrecord our dreams..."fantastic"w..."chew pencils that<BR/>record our dreams..."<BR/><BR/>fantastic<BR/><BR/><BR/>"we line for sugar cubes,<BR/>pink saviors <BR/>Mr. Sabin sent too late <BR/>for poor Christine..."<BR/><BR/>and for Nora - so cheerless a day <BR/><BR/>How nimbly the memories scribe across the screen. Lovely - evocative and nostalgic. You have captured the essence of classrooms in our time, and have deftly created a snapshot of childhood for me. Thank you, my friend.K.Lawson Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11204234196229710524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-18775547360508552992009-02-12T20:35:00.000-05:002009-02-12T20:35:00.000-05:00This is very good, Karen; you drew me into your wo...This is very good, Karen; you drew me into your world. I especially liked the image of those smelly boys!RachelWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18225401230724459199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-67306333624226846422009-02-12T19:54:00.000-05:002009-02-12T19:54:00.000-05:00Karen, kudos to your vision, in the thick of the t...Karen, kudos to your vision, in the thick of the time, but I wonder if the kids now can get some of this? Not that it matters. Sometimes I get a little nervous when I go to the doctor who is young enough, me old enough, that he could be my son, and even worse...<BR/><BR/>There are those do you remember when emails that go around and I am sometimes too old for the nostalgia...<BR/><BR/>Damn.christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04201537517464996231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-52354011815505556092009-02-12T19:10:00.000-05:002009-02-12T19:10:00.000-05:00This really is amazing. It brought back all kinds...This really is amazing. It brought back all kinds of childhood memories to read it, and all the thoughts and feelings that went with it. You're quite a weaver of image and feeling Karen my excellent poet friend.Catherine Viberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01354073276671196477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-41725010578926317152009-02-12T17:29:00.000-05:002009-02-12T17:29:00.000-05:00Wonderful - and the last verse goes for all of us....Wonderful - and the last verse goes for all of us.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-89121610750867978122009-02-12T16:54:00.000-05:002009-02-12T16:54:00.000-05:00Wow, Karen! This is a powerful poem - so many imag...Wow, Karen! This is a powerful poem - so many images and ideas--I'm in a whirl, with thoughts and reflections - memories of my own. I might have to do one of these too. Would you mind if I take this as a prompt?<BR/>The interesting thing about it is that it seems so timeless - you can't pinpoint an era or a generation. Mind you, do they still use chalk today? I don't know.<BR/>Your work is incredible.<BR/><BR/>KatKat Mortensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16877694888419628533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474566446391728432.post-58148685261916495862009-02-12T16:50:00.000-05:002009-02-12T16:50:00.000-05:00This is beautiful. I've been a teacher for a long ...This is beautiful. I've been a teacher for a long time and I think it's challenging to write poetry about school/teaching. Lovely.Thanks for visiting my blog - come back again!Diane Vogel Ferrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11982295772104313292noreply@blogger.com