Poems that shaped me

So I found some poems whilst sorting papers, I must have printed them over ten years ago. They had a profound impact on me and I remember how special each was. Each shaping a little part of my work with children, some with complex difficulties and the adults and families that work with them. I don't know where they all come from other than if I spoke to the person who wrote them I would be eternally thankful.  

The Gift of the Memorable Child

The child that is my challenge is a gift.

Only he can give me 


the gifts of patience, tolerance, and acceptance –


If I let him.


He will be the one to make me into a true teacher.

And challenge my very soul.


I can learn more from this child

Than from much of my college coursework –


If I choose to.


A child is not something that is “broken”

For me to “fix”.


This child comes to me a unique individual


Worthy of love – just as he is.


Or be yet another to throw my hands up?


Do I have it in me to maybe be the one


that can make a difference?


Is he maybe the one
 that will make a difference in me?

Will I choose to let him?

Cathy Abraham

(No child needs fixing but working with to mould to them to   allow them to each their potential and find a safe place in the world)

Unity

I dreamed I stood
in a studio


And watched two
sculptors there.


The clay they used
was a young child’s mind


And they fashioned it with care.

One was a teacher
the tools she used
were books and
music and art;


One was a parent
with a guiding hand
and a gentle loving heart.

And when at last
their work was done


They were proud of
what they had wrought,


For the things they
had worked into the child


could never be
sold or bought.

And each agreed she
would have failed


if she had worked alone,


For behind the parent
stood the school,


and behind the teacher
stood the home

by Ray A. Lingenfelter

(Sometimes we think we are working alone, and have arrogance to think we are right as educators yet only the best outcomes occur when there is a partnership)

Searching for Gold

Look beneath the freckles


Look beneath the grin


Look for that which sparkles


Buried deep within.

Look beyond the whining


Look beyond the tears


Look beyond the runny nose


The frowns, the mess, the fears.

Search for that which glitters


Treasures to unfold


Search beneath the surface


Search and find the gold!

by Jean Warren

(Sometimes, just sometimes a child is difficult to love yet we must search beyond the difficulties to find what is precious and in doing so we find treasures in them and ourselves)

Drop a Pebble in the Water

Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone;

But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,

Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea.

And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.


Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget,

But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,

And those little waves a-flowing to a great big wave have grown;

You've disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute it is gone;

But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.

They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the center as they go,

And there is no way to stop them, once you've started them to flow.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute you forget;

But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,

And perhaps in some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you've stirred,

And disturbed a life was happy ere you dropped that unkind word.


Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash and it is gone;

But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,

Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave

Till you wouldn't believe the volume of the one kind word you gave. 

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;

But there's gladness still a-swelling, and there's joy a circling yet,

And you've rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard

Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.

James W. Foley

(In everything we do everyday we have a major impact on those around us especially children, this is a huge responsibility and sometimes we forget the little things we do have far reaching consequences in their lives others around them and in to eternity.)

Molder of Dreams

Teachers …

You are the molders of their dreams,

the gods who build or crush

their young beliefs of right or wrong.

You are the spark that sets aflame the

poet's hand, or lights the flame

of some great singer's song.

You are the gods of the young, the very young.

You are the guardian of a million dreams.

Your every smile or frown can heal or pierce a heart.

Yours are a hundred lives, a thousand lives,

yours the pride of loving them, and the sorrow, too.

Your patient work, your touch, make you the gods of hope

who fill their souls with dreams

to make those dreams come true.

(I do not believe I am a god, totally against my own beliefs by whether we like it or not in the eyes of children we can create this, think of the impact for good, bad and ugly we can mould. Never forget our position)

Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;


Forgive them anyway.


If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;


Be kind anyway.


If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true friends;

succeed anyway.


If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;


Be honest and frank anyway.


What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;


Build anyway.


If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;


Be happy anyway.


The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;


Do good anyway.


Give the world your best anyway.


You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;


It was never between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa

(In all things remember this, you may not see the results of this even in your lifetime and you may become complacent please do not!!)