Saturday, April 12, 2014

Poetry Challenge #10 - The Invitation


Each Saturday  Ruth Ayres invites us to share and celebrate events from our week. Looking for small celebrations has certainly improved my outlook on life. For that, I am certainly grateful to Ruth and to all of you who choose to celebrate with us.

Looking back at my week I had many things to celebrate.  But this week, something special happened - a bond was formed, a relationship was strengthened, a memory was made.

Several weeks ago I had a student give me a gift.  When she walked into my class, she nonchalantly tossed a bag on my desk and said, "Here, my mom wanted you to have this."

Wondering what could possibly be in the bag, I opened it and almost cried.  Do you remember back in the fall, the GEICO commercial about the camel walking through an office asking "Guess what day it is?"  My student wore a shirt with this camel and "Hump Day" on the front.  I made a big deal about it, because I loved the commercial and sometimes certain students just need a little positive attention.  She wore it every Wednesday - I made it a big deal every Wednesday.

Inside that bag was a shirt for me.  She emphatically said she did not want us to be "twinkies," but I knew better.  That first Wednesday, we had staff pictures taken, so I told her I really didn't want to wear the shirt for my picture.  The next week I forgot, and even though she would never admit it, I know she was disappointed.  So, this week I remembered, and we both wore our shirts.  It was one of those days as a teacher I will never forget.  

Today I celebrate relationships.

To celebrate National Poetry Month, I have been attempting to write a poem each day in the month of April.  Today, my poem is dedicated to my "twinkie."



The Invitation

Her laughter is contagious
but only shared
with a few
who are invited into
her heart

Today I saw a glimpse
of who she can be
of happy
of hidden smiles

Her gift was a message
of acceptance 
of a relationship
of a bond
between us
which I will always
treasure

Her smile leaves me
with an invitation
to her heart
an invitation
I intend to accept

12 comments:

  1. This is a wonderful celebration. Sometimes the hard won smiles and laughter are the best.

    Um, what day is it? ;)

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  2. You are both so cute in those shirts! What a fun gift and now you have given a gift from the heart, a poem. Beautiful!

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  3. Love every bit, Leigh Anne, your poem's beautiful words, the picture of happiness, & the story. Such fun. Related--my son has to do weekly interviews at a tv station because of his job, & one time this year he arrived to find a camel there in the studio! He got his picture taken, and did the interview "with" the camel. The camel was there because of the ad, FYI. They all had a memorable day because of those ads!

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  4. Great photo of both of you! I am totally impressed that you have written a poem every day this month! P.S. You don't look a day over 35 in your photo!

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  5. How sweet! The bonds we form with students are so very important. I love the picture and the pure joy of laughter that is captured there.

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  6. Beautiful story and poem! Gave me a big lump in my throat!

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  7. so great- she is so lucky to have a teacher who pays attention and does not pull back, who honors her. Thanks for the inspiration

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  8. 10 days of poetry - go girl! Interesting story. I like how a poem grew out of it.

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  9. I love your shirt. What an awesome gift! I love being reminded how important our connections with our students are. She is lucky to have you.

    Jen

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  10. Love this beginning:

    "only shared
    with a few
    who are invited into
    her heart"

    Cathy

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