Covid-19 dreams
a night of insomnia
missing everyone.
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
covid-19 haiku
June 28, 2020online classes
April 16, 2020I teach 6 classes,
6 different preps,
at a school where most
struggle through a semester,
coming to class, and interacting.
in a call and response sort of way,
laughing with friends,
and carrying on,
— challenging me
as I question them.
Their ghosts now walk the empty halls,
where they stand, leaning into each other,
away from home, enjoying their freedom,
friends helping one another.
We now interact
in a virtual world,
where classes are held on screen,
They send assignments by email and phone,
while keeping the virus away.
This virus is a menacing thing,
and people need each other,
We do our best to make it through,
while wanting to be together,
I asked them what they learn from this
that they wouldn’t know otherwise,
they said, “Be prepared, and wash your hands,
and never take LIFE for granted”.
cfblack, 04-16-2020
Being a Boomer
February 25, 2020and this will be my poem about that.
maybe tomorrow.
Haikus
August 14, 2019Late evening rain shower,
Frogs croaking on the pond,
Tomorrow I go to work.
not 5-7-5 but this is how I feel… 8-14-19
Ocean haikus
Body surfing games
Children playing in the sand
Time is standing still,
Ever rolling waves
Breaking over my bare feet
Walking on the beach,
Families at play
Most relaxed I’ve ever been
Peaceful end of day.
Folly Beach, 8-12-19
hospitality of the Dutch
January 30, 2019I want to say a word about hospitality.
When I was a girl, going to my Dutch grandparents’ house was where I learned hospitality. We were immediate family, but oftentimes when my siblings and I were there, other people would stop in. They were usually part of the Dutch community, oftentimes family of my grandparents. My grandpa George was the oldest of 11. His siblings looked up to him, also because he was a very kind man, and would visit often.
There was a routine to these visits. First, sitting in their livingroom talking. After a good visit of about an hour, my grandma would then predictably say, “Let’s have a little lunch!” We would all then go into the kitchen, where I could count on a glass of 7-Up, cheese and crackers, and Dutch windmill cookies. Additionally, there were always chocolates with white cream filling, M&Ms, and Nonpareils (see photos).
The Dutch knew hospitality. I don’t think I taught my children well enough of this kindness to visitors. They would never have thought to be annoyed when someone stopped over to visit. No texting, no twittering, no Messenger-ing, but in-person visit time. My grandpa would make his coffee on a gas stove and watch it boil, then pour some into a cup. From the cup, he would pour a little into his saucer under the cup, and drink it from the saucer. I guess it cooled the boiling hot coffee.
Many happy hours were spent around their kitchen table, where they would tell stories to one another, and I was welcomed into the group, though a child. I learned much about family and how to treat a visitor.
1-30-2019
August night
August 26, 2018Night comes
and at first, cicadas,
their droning noise grinds to a crescendo,
then dwindles away,
Evening comes,
the sun is down,
but heat of August sun
remains,
white background noise
of insect calls
a quiet pitch continues.
The air conditioning broke tonight,
awakening childhood memories
of lying in bed, unable to sleep,
windows open to the night,
uncomfortable heat keeps me awake,
a bright moon rises
for her journey
across the darkened sky,
Animal sounds,
occasional siren,
slowly sleep,
enchanted dreams.
cfblack 08-26-2018
Hidden Words no.67
April 23, 2018I haven’t posted one of these since 2014.
O SON OF BEAUTY! By My spirit and by My favor! By My mercy and by My beauty! All that I have revealed unto thee with the tongue of power, and have written for thee with the pen of might, hath been in accordance with thy capacity and understanding, not with My state and the melody of My voice.
–Baha’u’llah
Dear gun enthusiast
March 24, 2018We don’t share your love of them.
They take lives of those we know.
They take futures of ones with much to give,
and who will never do so.
future scientist future nurse future leader in the universe,
future mother future wife future father future LIFE,
NONE of them are worth
all your fears of what you lose,
if we take AK-47s,
what the heck is that to you?
Hunting is a sport that you can do with bow and arrow
or a rifle, or a gun, but you don’t need rapid fire.
But I don’t need to convince you
because you will never change,
We will vote those out of office
who stand with the N.R.A.
So write it in your will
to be buried with your guns,
You can keep them there forever
buried with you 6 feet under,
Something is terribly wrong
when we can’t pass legislation
that is based on common sense
just to increase regulation,
To drive home after working,
you have passed a driver’s test,
and the tag on your license plate
says your car is registered,
but some disturbed and violent person
buys an AK at a gun show
and you don’t want a background check
to slow him down or make him wait.
And all those politicians
that you think are right behind you
will leave you in the dust
if the NRA stops funding.
This generation coming
watched their classmates fall before them,
and they see right through the veil
that is blinding your own vision,
But I don’t need to convince you
because you will never change,
We will vote those out of office
who stand with the N.R.A.
cfblack 03-24-2018
depression, or, “Sometimes I feel this way”.
March 7, 2018You sleep
and sleep more,
don’t remember dreams
except to know they were somewhat disturbing.
You want a week
without interruptions
just to do nothing at all.
Every project thought of
feels overwhelming,
You don’t know how to begin.
There are meals to plan, diets to figure out,
power points to create for chapters unread,
Shelves to dust,
budgets to align,
Boxes of stuff to organize,
A 2:00 appointment
intrudes on your day,
makes you feel like
you can’t start anything.
You know how unreasonable
all of this sounds,
and you know to do anything
will change how you feel.
You decide on a shower,
This, itself, an accomplishment,
that gives reason to celebrate.
cfblack 03-07-2018
Awaken
July 19, 2017I pray that we awaken,
that we not succomb to hopelessness,
that corruption not encase us
in the inevitable Iron Cage,
I pray that we, as humanity,
not lose our unique ability
to READ and think BEYOND
the images blasted at us on TV,
———— this is a poem to be finished later………………………………………………
Doctor Grandma 