Category Archives: poems

A frigid winter’s night

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

What does believe mean? Believe — It means truth, without seeing, Knowledge without touching. What do you believe? I believe in love. Love? Well, you can’t see love. I can. A small hand reaches out to touch my face. It … Continue reading →

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“A Prayer for Rain” by Lisel Mueller

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Let it come down: these thicknesses of air have long enough walled love away from love; stillness has hardened until words despair of their high leaps and kisses shut themselves back into wishing. Crippled lovers lie against a weather which … Continue reading →

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Hazard Faces a Sunday in the Decline by William Meredith

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

We need the ceremony of one another,     meals served, more love,     more handling of one another with love, less     casting out of those who are not     of our own household.     ‘This turkey is either not … Continue reading →

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[in Just-] by E. E. Cummings

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

in Just- spring          when the world is mud- luscious the little lame balloonman whistles          far          and wee and eddieandbill come running from marbles and piracies and it’s spring when the world is puddle-wonderful the queer old balloonman whistles far          and             … Continue reading →

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“A Teacher’s Lament” by Kalli Dakos

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Don’t tell me the cat ate your math sheet, And your spelling words went down the drain, And you couldn’t decipher your homework, Because it was soaked in the rain. Don’t tell me you slaved for hours On the project … Continue reading →

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“Fever 103°” by Sylvia Plath

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Pure? What does it mean? The tongues of hell Are dull, dull as the triple Tongues of dull, fat Cerberus Who wheezes at the gate. Incapable Of licking clean The aguey tendon, the sin, the sin. The tinder cries. The … Continue reading →

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Grumpy february

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Sure, it is February, and we’re all tired, tired of winter, cold, dreary days, and too much cloud cover. Still, that’s no excuse for bad behavior, but it seems to be on an uptick lately. Gorilla Girl’s class is making … Continue reading →

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“February” by Margaret Atwood

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Winter. Time to eat fat and watch hockey. In the pewter mornings, the cat, a black fur sausage with yellow Houdini eyes, jumps up on the bed and tries to get onto my head. It’s his way of telling whether … Continue reading →

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“In Memoriam: Martin Luther King, Jr.” by June Jordan

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

In Memoriam: Martin Luther King, Jr. By June Jordan I honey people murder mercy U.S.A. the milkland turn to monsters teach to kill to violate pull down destroy the weakly freedom growing fruit from being born America tomorrow yesterday rip … Continue reading →

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Promises, promises or “political poetry”

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

One of the duties of a 7th grade teacher is to explain to students the importance of the Declaration of Independence. It is no easy task, complicated by the challenging language and lofty ideals, that even today leave readers with … Continue reading →

Posted in community, connection, education, identity, inspiration, language, lessons, poems, transformation | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment