Tag Archives: amwriting

i’m here for you [a poem]

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“i’m here for YOU” you say
in front of the crowd
of teachers who can’t see
that their future will be full
of frustration
of blame
of pointed fingers
of shame 

“i’m here for YOU” you say,
but not when students skip,
not when students fight,
not when students cuss you out because
“they cuss me out all the time”

“i’m here for YOU” you say,
but not when I wanted to die…
did you care when I thought about suicide?
or were you just checking the boxes
to say you tried

                            …in case I tried?

“i’m here for YOU” you say,
but those students who destroyed me,
i’m teaching them again?

“i’m here for YOU” you say,
but can’t have a conversation
before that decision
because “budget cuts” and “certifications”
as you remind me I can look elsewhere
like that’s what you wanted all along

“i’m here for YOU” you say,
…but not for YOU, Danielle. 

Poetry Month Day 3 [moonlight]

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the true nocturnals
the night owls
do their best work in the moonlight.
sun sets on the horizon
stars scattered through the sky
and with it comes the quiet,
the peace in the silence.

always tired in the morning,
groaning while wiping the sleep from my eyes.
i despise the nine to five;
would thrive if i could work at night
but nursing and gas stations
don’t fit my aspirations.

if i could change the world,
there’d be more occupations,
more accommodations,
more considerations
for those who thrive in moonlight.

Found Words II

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Tired
Be the best everyday –
mold minds and inspire,
try to light a fire
in the minds of students
lacking the desire to learn
or try.

Why?

I’ve tried it all –
it’s like trying to captain a ship
but all the crewmates panic
because there’s no cellphone service
on the ocean. I can’t do it all.
I’m tired. Slowly, we sink together.

TRIED = TIRED

March 2023,

an anagram poem inspired by anagram poetry in Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Sharing poems I find in old journals or my Google drive

carousel [a poem]

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safe.
the one ride i know i’ll survive –
no bumps, turns, flips, drops,
no sudden stops.
one speed,
round and round
again and again
and then, the end.
get off or stay on, 
ride one more time because it’s

safe.
why take a risk,
a chance you might break
down and lose it all?
fall and fall
until there’s nowhere to go
all because you left your comfort zone.
all alone
future unknown.
you wanted an escape,
left behind what was

safe.
round and round,
again and again –
all fine until that moment when
the monotony of it all sets in.
you’ve lost your happiness from within.

Found Words I

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I knew enough about hangovers to stop me from opening the second bottle. See, the days were already rough, the heat like roasting in an oven. To add one more problem would be like cutting the grass when it’s already dead. But what else would take away the pain of what I’d lost that day? My dog of six years, the ultimate snuggler, my blanket on the coldest nights, now across the rainbow bridge. What else could help me ignore the empty spot on my bed? In my heart?

8/8/2023

sharing the found words in my various journals over the years

mature [a poem]

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as we grew up,
all we wanted was to be older:
to be sixteen,
  eighteen, twenty one.
we soldiered through
the challenges we faced then –
unaware of the wilderness
  life becomes when mature1.

now we reminisce,
wish we had taken time to savor
being free to feel unsure
of where we’re going.


borrowed poem2 i found in my journal from 2022

1 from “I Am Offering this Poem” by Jimmy Santiago Baca
2 a poem in which you borrow a line and build around it

my name [a poem]

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my name is two syllables
harsh transition between.
Danielle.
doesn’t quite roll of the lips in a beautiful way,
but hey, it’s mine.

Danielle.
like definitely – rarely spelled correctly
self-conscious at Starbucks &
restaurant wait lists.
do i look like daniel?
is my long, flowing red hair
not a big enough billboard?

Danielle.
to me, sounds like a harp.
stops me in my tracks.
goosebumps.
Danielle: a voice says, pulling me from panic.
Danielle: they yell, excited to see me.
Danielle: hand on shoulder, consoling.
Danielle: a voice of reason reminding me that i am enough.

no one’s footsteps to follow.
this name is mine.

on our side [but are you really] (a poem)

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It’s a teacher problem
It’s an adult problem
It’s a student problem

Last I checked, a problem is a problem
and problems need solutions.
Not blame,
not shame,
not to pass the buck to someone else
or pass on it in a few days anyways

because a problem without an answer
stays a problem
until you’re willing to listen,
create a vision,
make an actual decision.

but let’s be honest –
even if we told you,
the vicious circle will continue
because here we are now
being yelled at for our thoughts
but – oops, I forgot
you’re on our side, right?