Amazing Face
by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Amazing, your face.
Amazing.
It shows there will be trails to follow,
porches to wave from, wonder from,
play on.
It shows you will sail ships,
paint stars,
carve pumpkins,
hours,
years.
You will climb stalks,
greet giants,
crawl before you walk.
And you will fly.
And you will fall.
And you will fly again.
Amazing, your face.
It shows you will watch from a window,
whisper to a friend,
ride a carousel,
melt candy on your tongue.
Amazing, your face.
Amazing.
(used with permission of the author)
What a privilege it is to learn alongside these amazing faces, even when everything is not sunshine and roses.
Laura Purdie Salas has today's Poetry Friday Roundup. She is encouraging everyone to write an equation poem to celebrate the release of her new book, Snowman - Cold = Puddle (which was our story for the last few days, but Winter has roared back in with sub-freezing weather again today).
Here's my equation. It's a pair of equivalent fractions made by multiplying the first fraction by elitism / elitism.
Classroom / Cliques = USA / Bipartisanism
Mary Lee, I love all those amazing faces, including yours! Rebecca's poem is just perfect, isn't it? Thanks for sharing your equation too. So much to love in Laura's new books! xo
ReplyDeleteRebecca's poem is such a celebration of our students, the faces we celebrate each year, remember from the past. Wonderful, Mary Lee, & I certainly love your 'equation'!
ReplyDeleteYes, the faces are all amazing! Thank you for this lovely poem!
ReplyDeleteHow perfect to pair Rebecca's poem with a pic of your students. Wonderful equation too!
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday! Always share hope and encouragement!
ReplyDeleteSigh, Mary Lee...yes, it is indeed a gift to spend ones days in the company of such amazing faces. I do miss them.
ReplyDeleteThe wonder of who they are becoming ... truly amazing faces.
ReplyDeletePerfect poem with your photo-- and unfortunately, your equation is well-balanced.
ReplyDeleteI love Rebecca's poem, and yes, our classrooms are full of amazing faces! xo
ReplyDeleteWhat a breath taking poem to read while thinking about all those amazing faces that are part of our lives for such a little time but so much growing. Thank you for this glimpse of amazing.
ReplyDeleteThe poem pairs so well with your learners' faces. I bet they were really proud to be part of that equation: poem + happy students = engaged learning experience.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely group of beautiful faces. Thank you for sharing the photo and the poem.
ReplyDeleteAmazing Face reminds me of Naomi Shihab Nye's book title A Maze Me. Celebrating your students in all the ups and downs inspires me today.
ReplyDeleteRebecca's poems are so full of heart and fabulous, specific images. And I love/hate your equation poem! Love the creativity, hate the truth of it!
ReplyDeleteI love the repetition and the beautiful celebration of all those amazing faces.
ReplyDeleteIt seems teaching invites the eye-opening opportunity to learn from our students-love this part of it. Thanks for sharing Rebecca Kai Dotlich's poem, this part offers so much hope,
ReplyDelete"And you will fly.
And you will fall.
And you will fly again."
Thanks Mary Lee!
Perfect pair, that poem and those faces. In sifting through old class pictures, I wonder so much about former students and their current lives. Thank you so much for sharing Rebecca's thought-provoking poem. -- Christie @ https://wonderingandwondering.wordpress.com/
ReplyDeleteGorgeous poem...how'd you get your hands on that? I was preparing to sing something to the tune of "Amazing Grace." And how'd you watercolor your kids?
ReplyDeleteI love what you did with your class photo. BTW, I dreamt you owned a writing cabin. LOL!
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