5.14.2017

A Visit from Le Flaneur






Le Flaneur asks.

I say, I don't know.  Other things have come up.  I haven't given it any thought.

Finally, I post the details of a 100 Discoveries box: a green field, the black outline of a hand.

Le Flaneur asks, Is that it?  Don't you think you should let people know if it's done?

She is the only one who asks.

The last time I checked, I had just over 900 posts.

I wondered if I was getting close.

I stared, flabbergasted when I saw

Published Posts: 1000

What does it mean?

Why do we put such importance into certain numbers?

How different is it from any other?

Is it over?

What more needs to be said?








4.18.2017

colorful squares found






inside


the knit purse


i bought for $2


from a little girl


the day before we left Guatemala







3.23.2017

art school teacher: on writing nonsense





as a way to discover rhythm in words
i suggest to the students: try writing nonsense




it's not as easy as you may think
writing whatever words rise to the surface
without having to make it make sense




i tell them i once made a habit of writing nonsense
months of months of nonsense




they stare at me
unimpressed









3.09.2017

Art School Teacher: Comics Class



art by Renaissance High School students
photo comic by Chloe





We each scribbled on newsprint with a colored marker

until there emerged:

a face,

an object,

a figure,

a landscape.




We each arranged our four drawings

as a four panel comic,

adding details with a black marker.

About Rose's, I pondered all week:




The astonished cat,

The grounded stag,

A twisted shadow, surprised

The mountains echoing the birds' cry.




Then we added characters and voice bubbles.

And made new four panel comics

by photographing details.










3.08.2017

the night i found a perfect poster for peter





no one showed
for the mindful artist class

which i didn't really mind
since there was a print making workshop
in the cool art space by the river!




by the time i walked there
the gallery was full of ladies 
in various stages of the printing process

and on the bar, next to a stack of cups
there were some open bottles of wine!






turns out the event wasn't open to the public

feeling too awkward to leave
i browsed through the rack of prints
and found this one for peter










3.06.2017

Art School Teacher: six word stories assigned, rebellion staged





teacher assigns
students groan
teacher sighs


students know
the teacher
doesn't know


students demand
no restrictions!
teacher cries


teacher books
spring break
to Guadalajara


resignation letter
signed, sealed
never sent


teacher 
spends weekend
grading papers
again







3.04.2017

poem for chakra ajna









one pointed focus
two petaled flower

violet third eye
cultivating wisdom

seeing clearly
non-duality

all opposites as one
awakening unity

between the eyebrows
sounding om

all seeing third eye
limitless Self

discerning clearly
limited personality

two petaled
violet flower

all beings unified
full of vibration

opening fully
one-pointed clarity










3.03.2017

poem for chakra vishuddha









sky blue
sounding ham
sixteen petaled flower
throat blossom

listening inward
receiving guidance
thumbs touching
breath lifting
upward current
inner listening
attuned to subtle feeling
noticing sensation
collar bone, neck, throat, shoulders
aligning cervical spine
balancing metabolism
receiving messages
clear communication
inner being
deep listening
sky blue blossom









3.02.2017

poem for chakra anahata







twelve petaled 
emerald flower
love and compassion
heart center

index fingers touching
softening and opening
harmonious
universal
love

sounding yam

emerald blossom
uplifting
self acceptance
all beings
compassion awakening
noticing emotions
allowing without clinging
twelve petals opening
heart center expanding
love








2.27.2017

poem for chakra manipura








yellow sun
solar plexus
vital energy
balanced activities

ten golden petals
exhaling into center
inhaling in all directions

fire elements
self confidence
yellow light
vital sun
middle fingers touching
blooming energy
ten petals golden
envisioning balance
fully vibrant
unfolding possibility

sounding ram

solar plexus
yellow sun







2.26.2017

poem for chakra svadhisthana







orange wave
energy currents
self established
internal comfort 
nourishing relationships
six-petaled flower

interlacing ring fingers
waves of self healing
blossoming flower

adaptable, flexible, fluid
water, pelvis, womb
healthy intimacy
six petaled bloom

glands and organs
inner sea
sounding vam

deep breath
infused with wellness
gently bathe
inherent wholeness








2.24.2017

poem for chakra muladhara







root red
four petaled
perineum
flower

root red 
deep breath
drawing down
root chakra

red flower
four petaled
pinkie fingers touching
earth connection
dirt connection
nutrient rich
sustaining

sounding lam

a low note
a red root
a deep breath
a four petaled flower






2.23.2017

Art School Teacher: A Six-Sentence Story








1.  The teacher assigns a six-sentence story.




2.  The tall student asks, "Does it have to be six sentences?"




3.  The stout student asks, "Do we have to write about something specific?"




4.  The one who has trouble sticking to past tense asks, "Does it have to be in present tense?"




5.  The boy who wears make-up asks, "Can the sentences be any length, and is it due next week?"




6.  The sly student asks, "What if it isn't really a story, but still is six sentences?"










2.16.2017

Art School Teacher: Encountering Legends







The girls in podcasting class were arguing over whether it was called
the Anne Frank Room or the Marilyn Monroe Room.

What I gleaned from their conversation about the room; 
perched above the balcony, boarded up, supposedly haunted, 
seemed more Anne Frank.

But when we went to get the microphone from the theatre shop, 
there was a giant painting of Marilyn Monroe.

"See!" the oldest girl said.  "This painting used to be in that room 
before someone died in there and they boarded it up."

Only one of the three was willing to make a spooky laugh on tape.
But they all chatted excitedly for over 15 minutes
sharing what they know about the legends of West High.










2.14.2017

high school haiku (free verse)






the bell rings
joyous reunions
lockers slamming

new clothes though unsure
where to go for homeroom
searching for a friend

old teacher shocked
how short the girls’ skirts 
how long the boys' hair

leaves falling
sweater weather
dreaming of kissing

teacher announces quiz
students groan
fooled again!


the first snow
everyone at the windows
lessons abandoned

loud speaker blaring
report to the auditorium
students slump, yawning

passing in the hall
hands briefly touching
hearts loudly thumping

after the students
exit the auditorium
a glove left on a seat

smells of tater tots
fish sticks and ketchup;
lunch!


absurd high schoolers
wondering what is absurd
and deciding everything

thick snow falling
praying for a snow day
instead, school

oh no! forgot
to study for the test
again!

muddy tracks through snow
a paper tumbling, a cold wind
winter school yard


day dreaming in class
notes passing, hearts breaking
teacher calling for attention

hallway empty
except one student
head bent, crying

warm sun, robins call
after school students loiter
holding coats, laughing

windows open wide
last day of school, finally!
the lake beckons

staying out late with friends
cicadas calling
hoping summer never ends