Monday, August 31, 2009


cool air
settles upon my corner
of the world-
listening to the sigh
of twilight...
small hands squeeze mine
'til the pulse of each heartbeat
is felt-hers
indistinguishable from
my own...

Sunday, August 30, 2009


canopy
of yellow and green-
leaves and sweet dreams fall...
some days
I wish my pen would just
run out of ink-
searching for lost words
and someone else to blame...

Friday, August 28, 2009

inch by inch...
watching the sun dip below
the horizon-
time moves so slowly
when you are gone from me

Thursday, August 27, 2009


bashful one-
face hidden behind
a veil of clouds

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

darkness falling
earlier than the night before-
decrescendo...

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

"penny for your thoughts,"
says the quarter moon
so sweetly-
I don't have the heart
to break it to him

Monday, August 24, 2009


strength to face
another grueling week-
found in the stillness...

Saturday, August 22, 2009


God must be
a poet-
I see His verse
in the reflection of
mountains on shining water...

Friday, August 21, 2009

first cool night-
the breeze whispers sweet nothings
in the dark-
autumn romance
beginning early...
I wish I had written this poem! I am reading a book called Awakening the Heart: Exploring Poetry in Elementary and Middle School and this poem is featured. I just loved the picture that it painted in my mind, especially now that school is back in session and I am reminiscing about the summer. The poet is Debra Chandra. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to share it. It's not a tanka because of the syllables, but I love the way she did it. Breaking the line after summer and before breath almost makes it feel like catching your breath. I love it!!!

Suspense
Wide-eyed
the sunflowers
stare and catch their summer
breath, while I pause, holding basket
and shears.
-Debra Chandra

Thursday, August 20, 2009


first day...aroma
of newly-sharpened pencils
and fear

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

This post isn't a poem, but instead a prayer. A friend of mine read it and said that I should post it on my blog, so I am. I'm a teacher and school starts tomorrow. I met several of my students last night at open house and I went home thinking about them. I wrote this little prayer when I got home. This is truly the desire of my heart as I start this new school year with them.

Dear Lord, Help me to remember that each one of these is a child of yours. Help me to see my own daughter's face when I look at each one of them, remembering that every child is some parent's everything. Especially help me to fill the void in some way for those kids who don't have that...who are made to feel like nothing instead of everything. Help me show them their worth. Teach me as I teach them. -AMEN

Monday, August 17, 2009

late summer storm
blowing in with
raw power-
petals wilted from the heat
surrender and release...

Sunday, August 16, 2009

intoxicating-
scent of a memory
takes me away...

Saturday, August 15, 2009

single star
peeks through the branches then
disappears again-
front porch rocking chair creaks
in rhythm with the night
insomnia-
words not yet written
whisper loudly...
little bird
sees all, perched on my
angled rooftop-
the moon is his tonight...
finders keepers
unexpected
cool breeze forwards my thoughts
to autumn-
sounds of a marching band
practicing in the distance...
across her forehead,
wisp of blonde hair flies
away in the breeze-
if only she could stay small,
if only...

Friday, August 14, 2009


brush strokes across
the sunset sky-majesty
in pastels
funeral day-
through tears, I see
a single lilly
among the dry grass-
embrace of God...

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

mid-August daydream
finds me drifting away on
a salty breeze-
abruptly awakened by
the morning bell

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

clinging to
promises of old, in search
of present comfort-
a falling star catches
my eye...

Monday, August 10, 2009

pitter-patter
of raindrops outside
my bedroom window-
sleep washing over me
at last...

Sunday, August 9, 2009


feathery clouds
stretch across the night sky
and tickle the moon



Friday, August 7, 2009

writer's block-
words lost somewhere in the
sapphire sky

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

dancing limbs sway
against the storm's rage
and fury-
grace
under pressure




Tuesday, August 4, 2009


quite familiar,
that luminescent smile
above my rooftop-
how does this ancient one
make my world new again?
Hello old friend-
full moon hovers over
my shoulder.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

two a.m.-
tired body in need of rest
can't convince my mind...