Beyond

A gecko egg fell off my shelf and cracked.
Does your heart beat? Lungs contract?
Is your tiny flicker of a brain fully-formed?
Your thin snout, arms clutched close to your chest,
still, grey markings, the tiniest of webbed toes.
If you live
will you remember me, the earth-mother
that helped to speed your passage into this bright
Beyond the Egg?

You lie very still, born too soon,
born too soon.

Thailand

More recently I attended a traits of writing conference in Thailand with a few other teachers from our school. As a language arts teacher, I was expected to go forth and learn new things. I learned that my abilities to sit still and listen have deteriorated significantly since taking up my role as teacher.

This is the writing dinosaur, our table mascot. And a rubber nose.

Hannah draws.

Cheeky Ms. Day

Kelly listens in fascination

Chelsie entertains from across the table.

And then we left for home. I had fun with some other tourists at the Bangkok airport. The flight itself was as comfortable as a budget airline can get, and we experience some turbulence on the way back. 

 But not to fear! Jean Claude van Damme was there to save the day.

Pigeon Man

A collaboration between a seventh grader and member of staff.

Middle School

Eighth graders celebrating that I pushed their vocab quiz back a day

Seventh graders 

Yes, bow before your master.

 Jordan says goodbye

The remains of Billy Bob, a chicken mummified in history class 

Sometimes literature class gets out of hand. 

Don't ask.

Putting the final touches on David before his closeup. 

Parting is such sweet sorrow. Even if it's just for a ninety minutes.

My Week, in Pictures

Editing manuscripts in coffee shops

  

Meeting friends

Riding in packed buses

 Carpooling with the glamorous Green Knight

and teaching grammar to his lesser-known little brother.

Tip

With a long skirt, you will always look graceful, no matter your predicament or position.