joy to my family
peace to my enemy
strength to myself
my wisdom and my health

unkindness is tastelessness
the only way i’ll face this is
my long-term relationships
with compassion and patience

A storm rages on
Trees thrash and break
Windows and ears split from the roar of thunder
Colossal building shake and bend
Rain floods the road
Seeps in basements and cars and the earth
Waves throw their full weight at the beach
Birds and Foxes have long since burrowed
Sensing the coming storm

Yet at the same time
Not far away
A gentle breeze hushly moves the tall grasses in fields
Tickles the leaves of blooming trees
Weaves its way through the towns and over the waters
The people roam the beaches and streets with smiles on their faces and the sun on their skin

Everywhere has its own storm in its own time

Thrilled, wrapt, beguiled,
bruised, broken, lost,
tempest toss’d
or star-sky smitten,
it’s your heart we love alone

even if it feels so,
you never are x

Be kind you never know if someone lost a friend
Be kind you never know if someone lost a pet
Be kind you never know if someone lost a job
Be kind you never know if someone had a bad day
Take time for yourself
Talk before it before it's words that's never said
Pause but not to long before it becomes a memory
Be sad
Be happy
Be angry
Be frustrated
Be kind you never know if some just lost a friend
Be kind you never know if someone just lost a pet
Be kind you never know if someone just lost a job
Be kind you never know if someone just lost had a bad day
Be kind there's enough hate in the world
Be kind.

As teachers,
(and I know some are back already, sorry)
we are doing the equivalent
of sportsfolk psyching up

Our judo coach is shaking and slapping
while we, in denial, are still mowing lawns
and planning actual meals from recipes

In our dreams, the Bueller…?
Bueller…? Bueller…?
reels are already playing
with our classes disobeying to our faces

So for everyone’s sake
ease us in please
keep us keen and we’ll deal with your progeny
‘til Halloween