(x = space)
x
x
Mille Grazie per Preghiera
x
I feel as if
I should offer
A prayer
To God
For something
x
Gratitude
Confession
Promise or
At least desire
To do better
x
Petition,
Intercession
Plus my own things
x
I’m not sure
How that’s the praise
That’s called for
While it seems
Mostly like complaining
x
Except to say thank you;
Maybe there’s praise
In that
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Wilhelm Gunkel on Unsplash
x
sorry for any Italian language that I broke
x
thank you
x
(x = space)
x
x
Hallmark Would Have It Rhyme
x
My circle has
Widened some
In lively ways
And souls
x
Lois, John, Paul
(no George or Ringo)
Mandy, Lynn
Other blogging friends
Some of these from
Reaching out
A little
Some are a surprise
With or without
The reaching
x
And I am thankful
The circle has
Ends meet,
Even braided
x
Like the rim
Of that thing at Thanksgiving
Inside which are all
The fruits and nuts,
Wheat stems
Other good things
Of Earth
Like seasons
And like friendship
x
C L Couch
x
x
x
I like Hallmark cards and enjoy sending them out for holidays. I especially like the Peanuts cards at Hallowe’en. (No, Hallmark people didn’t make me say this. I’m sure they don’t know I’m here.)
x
(x = space)
X
x
Poem 181
(thanks for the Poetry 180 Project)
x
Where are you?
I’ll miss you for the summer
Billy Collins, thank you
And the Library of Congress
They are contact days, I know
Or contract
The days in a school year
By the number
And the project of a poem a day
To keep us sane,
To give us something to talk about
In class,
Who knows, maybe for extra credit
To write companion pieces
Illustrate them, turn them in
Tack them to a board
Somewhere (but in a place
of honor)
And for me, the poems give this
Once-and-future teacher
Something good
Once a day, especially
When nothing else seems good
Something to carry me
A thought, a momentary inspiration
New words, new ideas
Or simply confirmation that
I should keep reading (writing)
On my own, too
x
thank you
x
C L Couch
x
x
Poetry 180 is designed to make it easy for students to hear or read a poem on each of the 180 days of the school year. I have selected the poems you will find here with high school students in mind. They are intended to be listened to, and I suggest that all members of the school community be included as readers. A great time for the readings would be following the end of daily announcements over the public address system.
Billy Collins
Former Poet Laureate of the United States
x
Nazaré Wall Art
x
Toast
(lids on hot food for now)
I woke up with a cold
I don’t care
I have this hour
And a day that could go twenty-four
Or become an age
As in day of the dinosaur,
Which is a really long day
You woke up this day with what you have
I hope it’s good
And if it’s not,
I hope it gets good and even better
For the hardship
We are awake
We have today
There’s sunshine somewhere
And out there the stars are turning
Movement proves life
Be easy
Or be crazy
Have a thought for someone else
And what she’s going through
We’ll see each other soon
Dancing in the skies
The circle won’t be broken or
Truth made out of lies
Now thinking-reverie must pause
Because there’s food and drink somewhere
And labor must be easy for a time
I hope we find the feast
Thank the host
Thank the guest
Hang on, if we must
Go in, because we can
C L Couch
Photo by Mark Cruz on Unsplash
A Free Writing Prompt for You: What makes you grateful? How do you say, “Thanks”?
from Jacki K
response and illustration
Is that free writing or freewriting? I’ll probably respond to both. And with. Okay, I start.
Finding something lost makes me feel grateful. And I say thanks. To hear good news from family makes me feel grateful, too.
Longer time on earth—and I like being here, by the way—means loss. Someone dying is not about me, but I can’t help but take it personally. I think we’re supposed to, actually. After all, after death the issues are for those us remaining.
With losses that are severe—yes, loss of life but also loss or lessening of health and means and prospects—the small things to be thankful for mean more. I mean, I suppose losses in life could lead to bitterness, though as a lifestyle I try to move myself away from that. Maybe when I’m old and all alone, I’ll give in.
So lost keys, then. And that one piece of paper with information on it that I need. Sleeping a number of hours without obvious break. A day of color, whatever the season. Which would include a cardinal on the snow. Something new and interesting I see when I drive by. A new-to-me old building to admire or a community announcement that shows the town alive. Remembering to have grabbed exactly what I needed on my way outside the door.
There are many things. Imagine yours.
I do say thank-you and perform small courtesies in kind. Whatever the reaction is matters, though not so much. The joy is in the giving. And so is thankfulness. Small things to be thankful for are gifts and courtesies. I’m a better person when I know these and acknowledge them.
Aren’t we better people for saying and receiving thanks? Giving or receiving? Both? You’re welcome. And thank you.
C L Couch
for the image, kennethkeiferphotography.zenfolio.com (from Google Images)
clcouch123 
Recent Comments