Tag Archives: poetry

“oh antic God” By Lucille Clifton

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

oh antic God return to me my mother in her thirties leaned across the front porch the huge pillow of her breasts pressing against the rail summoning me in for bed. I am almost the dead woman’s age times two. … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, family, loss, motherhood | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

“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 →

Posted in education, experience, poems | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

“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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“My Father Teaches Me to Dream” by Jan Beatty

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

You want to know what work is? I’ll tell you what work is: Work is work. You get up. You get on the bus. You don’t look from side to side. You keep your eyes straight ahead. That way nobody … 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 →

Posted in poems, winter | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

What it’s like to be the mom of two four-year olds adopted from Vietnam (for those who aren’t)

Posted on February 20, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

On Friday, I attended the CASE (Council for American Studies Education) Conference at the Chicago History Museum. I signed up months ago, when I envisioned February to be a time when I would have time on my hands and need … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, connection, education, inspiration, memory, motherhood, Tet, tradition, unexpected gifts, writing | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments