Friday, December 07, 2012

Poetry Friday -- Teaching



TEACHING

I teach,
I watch.
They fall,
I catch.

I lift,
they soar.
I brood,
they hatch.

They spread,
I gather.
I pair,
I match.

I teach,
I watch.
They fall,
I catch.

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2012





Robyn has the roundup today at Read, Write, Howl.


26 comments:

  1. Wow, Mary Lee. Simple and powerful. You captured some of the essential moves of teaching, each with its own pace.

    Is that pattern block design from your own floor? It is as beautifully crafted as your poem.

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    1. Made by students, right there on the classroom floor!

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  2. Perfect! "I brood, they hatch." It is so true, Mary Lee, so true... Thank you! Happy PF! a.

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    1. And don't forget, "brood" has more than one meaning. I've been doing some of both lately...

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  3. I agree with Heidi and Amy. You have captured the essence of teaching. And maybe mothering too! Perfect!

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  4. Both works of art are simple and gorgeous. I love the double meaning of brood in I brood, they hatch.

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    1. Intended. See my reply to Amy!

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  5. Anonymous6:19 AM

    Beautiful!, Karen! Need to share this with teachers today. Great encouragement during this crazy time of year!

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    1. When you share it, be sure you tell them that MARY LEE wrote it!

      :-)

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  6. Thank you for an uplifting poem to begin my Friday with early in the morning. I love the second stanza I connect with it for so many reasons.

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  7. Oh my gosh! Your poem is beautiful. I'd like to hang a copy in our teacher's lounge. Thank you for starting my day off so beautifully.

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  8. Love this, Mary Lee! I like the brood double meaning too :).

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  9. Anonymous10:16 AM

    That's wonderful.

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  10. Beautiful poem, Mary Lee. "I teach, I watch." Thank you for sharing your words and reflections.

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  11. I like the way it becmes a cycle with the repetition of the first stanza. I tried saying it swapping the subjects round at the end as well but it didn't work!

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  12. Yes! The essence, Mary Lee!! I especially like the catching part and the soaring. This is just a perfect poem, Mary Lee! Love it. Janet F.

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  13. Lucky kids to have you to catch them, Mary Lee. Thanks for sharing this heartfelt poem. xo

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  14. Will share this one with my teacher-to-be daughter - yep, perfect.

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  15. I have to keep studying what you do Mary Lee, to keep those words brief, but so beautifully chosen. I love "I brood, they hatch". Terrific!

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  16. I lift,
    they soar.
    We've had the kind of week that makes these lines resonate. This one is going on my desk...thanks, Mary Lee.

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  17. I love the repeating stanza, the image and above all the message you have here. Beautifully done.

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  18. Gorgeous Mary Lee! This should be on a poster.

    Violet N.

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  19. So simple, so true, so important. Let us not lose sight of our purpose as teachers. I imagine this mother hen gathering her wandering chicks. Thanks!

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  20. They hatch. They soar. And they are able to do so because you are always there to catch them. What a lovely poem, perfect in its simplicity.

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