The end of summer is about transitions. Anyone involved in education at any level or anyone with children realize this is a time of change. School aged children move to a new grade level, meet a new teacher, and see a new classroom. College aged students return to their studies at their campuses where they are now comfortable, or attend a new campus with wide-eyed anticipation mixed with a dose of trepidation. Teachers have new class lists with student names, some of which they recognize surnames, and many of which they don’t. They prepare, wonder and hope about what lays ahead for the coming year.
I’ve had children, I’ve taught at the college level, and I’ve substituted at the elementary level. I know this time of year well. In my phase of life, retirement, I no longer have the end of summer push with the unknown new year laying ahead of me. It makes me both sad and relieved. This is a strange mix of emotion.
My summer writer’s circle ended yesterday. We went for ice cream and talked about the up coming school year. When I asked what part was enjoyed the most, the answer I got was, “Well, all of it! It was poetry, after all!” It pleased me to have a seventh grade student declare this to me. I reminded her we also wrote pourquoi stories and her’s was quite good. This student’s I am poem is as follows:
I am poem…
I am Meg
I am impatient and smart
I wonder if I’ll be able to be more patient
I hear the sound of moving too fast
I see the shard of broken glass
I want to be more patient
But every time the glass falls
I’m smart enough to put the pieces back together
To rebuild something broken.
And, to make it a little better.
By: M.F., age 12.
Used with permission of author and parent.
With the end of our summer session of Writer’s Circle, I now wonder about beginnings. Will it be possible for me to offer a group next year? At this point, I don’t know. I hope to, but as I wrote in a piece earlier this week, Looking for Space, published on Medium.com, I don’t know if it will be possible.
Even without me, the students will have new beginnings. I’ve realized that being part of both beginnings and endings really is okay.
Today is Poetry Friday! The round up this week is hosted by Elisabeth at Unexpected Intersections. Please visit her page for inspiration and links to some more great poems! Thanks for hosting Elisabeth!
The Apples in My Orchard 
I’m sorry your writing circle had to end. I think it was valuable for both you and the students. Thanks for posting your student’s poem. Nice peer mentor for my students.
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Thanks, Margaret! i appreciate your support and will let my student know that you will use it as a peer poem. I was not going to relinquish and let this student “do her own thing” instead of using the templet verbatim, but I am glad I did – I very much liked the results.
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It’s a tenuous road ahead. I hope your writing circles can continue, both for you and your lucky students. I’m impressed at the depth of your students “I am” poem.
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Thank you. My student deserves all the credit.
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What a wonderful time you have enjoyed with your writing circle. What a wonderful gift you have given them – your time and wisdom and your *belief*, in them.
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Belief in students and their abilities, along with support and encouragement is so important! Thanks!
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Wow, Meg’s poem is lovely. These two lines sandwiched between the patience lines are beautiful.
“I hear the sound of moving too fast
I see the shard of broken glass”
And keeping that broken glass image for later, as she puts the pieces back together. Well done, Meg, and Carol too!
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What a wonderful gift you’ve given to those students – your time and an introduction to the wonderful world of poetry. I hope you will find a space that allows you to continue to do work you clearly love.
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Your ending sounds bittersweet but celebrating that comment and with this poem is a wonderful thing, too, Carol. I love the poem & this line: “I hear the sound of moving too fast”. This poet knows self well already!
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Carol, I wish you both space and students to continue this good work!
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Thanks, Heidi.
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So much goodness in this post, Carol. Meg is quite the poet. Thanks for sharing her (and your) words. 🙂
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Thanks, Bridget! I enjoy the students immensely!
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Gorgeous and sensitive poem by your student Meg, I believe, and post. I hope you’ll find space to continue offering your writing classes– I read your earlier post, and feel these learners/students need space too… Thanks Carol!
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Thanks for your support, Michelle!
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Your student’s poem is beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you!
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Here’s to both beginnings and ends (AND all the in-betweens!)
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Yes! They all matter and make us who we are! Right?!
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