Mary Oliver’s poem “Wild Geese” includes the beautiful phrase:
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting–
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
Her words were on my mind as I met with first year students and saw their longing today. How do we teach belonging? First day of school I always want a friend to eat lunch with, and have learned that learning the names of buildings and buying notebooks can wait. I keep the door open and breathe in the ink from new pens, the hot eucalyptus trees and a 3rd grade cafeteria that lingers.
My poem to kick off this challenge…not nearly so lovely in haiku form, cuz that’s all the energy that remains at the end of these crazy “back to school” daze.
Imagination
Wonder what that could be?
Goose poo in my brain
That’s me. Still in 3rd grade. Bless my heart!
RipeLife 