Sunday, October 11, 2015

Prep Week: Racing and Teaching Haikus

My first half-marathon is this coming Saturday, and I could be teaching high school American literature as soon as a week from tomorrow (as the maternity substitute for my friend). This week has a lot of preparations in store: the completion of my race training (for this race, more to come *soon*, Lord-willing), as well as lesson preparation for the six-week study of American poets for the sophomores and juniors I am eager to meet.

For fun (and since I will soon ask teens to write their own poetry), I thought I would share my emotions about it all through a collection of loose haiku poems (Japanese style of poetry, using seventeen syllables in three lines --five in line one, seven in line two, five in line three). I have started really appreciating poetry in the past few years, and I have a lot to learn about it... As you'll soon read:

Much to do this week
My feelings are strong and broad
Will I be ready?

Five more days to train
Running fast this Saturday
Will I be ready?

Years of desire
Anticipation to race
Will I be ready?

Half marathon time
Chosen with purpose to do
Will I be ready?

My best, fast or slow
Moving, giving it my best
Yes, I'll be ready.

Changing gears for fall
Stay-at-home mom to teach school
Will I be ready?

To teach teenagers
High school poetry -- how strange
Will I be ready?

Lessons to prepare
American poets plus
Will I be ready?

Poetry is art
Emotions to build beauty
Will we be ready?

Students to care for
Blessings to receive and give
Will we be ready?

Yes, I will be there
Growing and learning, my pals
Yes, I'll be ready.

My own sweet darlings
Ev'ry day for five years now
Can I be ready...

Parted from them hours
Consecutive weekly days
Can I be ready...

In good hands they'll be
Fun with family and new things
They'll be ready.

I'll be home by 4
Mommy milk, cuddly learning
We'll be ready.

If ready or not
God's faithfulness carries us
He is for us all




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