Teachable Moments

© 2012 Dana Norberg

Into the classroom my students bring
hopes, fears, experiences, preconceptions
to learn a language not their own
but the teachable moments are mine
as they share struggles, troubles, disappointments
yet holding fast to dreams that brought them here

students bring hope

to learn language unknown

holding fast to dreams

Waiting for Nature's Nod

the garden is dead, says she
no, say i, only sleeping
but nothing grows, says she
i point to rosemary green
to garlic fronds and spreading thyme
and to green native plants peaking through brown
not dead, say i, only awaiting nature's nod

garden nothing grows

native plants peak through brown grass

not dead just waiting

Unfocused

My mind is unfocused

unable to stay the task

as random thoughts

parade past my mind's eye

Darkness Returns

Photo courtesy of MS clip art gallery

darkness makes a return attempt
dulling senses with gray gossamer 
pushing desperately against the dark omen
preferring the sunny days of late

the darkness returns

gray mist dulls the senses

push back hard for sun

An Image of Me

on a light day I peruse the past

studying photos of old

I gaze at the image of a granddaughter

with her blond hair, her happy smile

the face is hers, but the eyes are blue

with surprise I realize the photo is mine

and my granddaughter is the image 

of her grandmother with brown eyes

Barking

a neighbor angry about incessant barking

a sleeper by day, a nurse by night

frustrated by the difference in schedules 

preventing the meeting she desires

to ask the owner to muzzle his dogs

or expect legal retaliation from her

Spring's First Show

delicate white flora is presented

as spring's first show arrives

encouraged by the rains and balmy air of previous

she braves the cruel cold-snap of the moment

to present a promise of spring to come

Sparkling Conversation

a sparkling young lady strikes up a conversation

waiting for her mother busy with the stylist

she confesses that her hair is very short

because "by accident" she cut it

ms. sparkles tells me conspiratorially

that when her hair is long

 like shelby's, rapunzel's, and sara's

she will wear it in braids and ponytails

with bows and feathers and beads

Morning News

today we hear about a man

furious to be denied a gun

by a pawn owner following rules

into the shop comes a borrowed caddie

guided by the angered customer

three injured, all will live

the reporter reminds us of dual facts

the mandatory background check did its job

and one only needs a vehicle for attack

The Language of Migraines

dizzy, nauseous, throbbing

lost in fuzz, throbbing

sharp pain, "don't talk so loud!", throbbing

light too bright, "close the shades!", needles throbbing

cold pack, can't see, throbbing

ice pick pain, ugh, throbbing

my lovely day