Today is Leap Day, which means that it was the day of the Poetry Slam. Here’s a photo taken before it started, of the audience – or rather, the audience that had arrived thus far. It was a totally standing-room only show!
Such a total success. Such a natural high. 
Categories: Daily JPG · Poetry · Student Teaching
I’m going through and taking pictures of each of my students while writing or reading poetry. This is probably my favorite picture that I’ve taken so far. His name is Sam.
Categories: Daily JPG · Poetry · Student Teaching
Which is somewhat different than a “Daily JOG”…
I’m working on my poetry lessons, and one of the poems I’ve found is about an eagle. Thought I’d include it, beings as it kinda complements this here picture of a bald eagle in full wing. Bald eagles live in Idaho, y’know. I’ve seen whole trees full of them, no jokin’…
Eagle Plain
by Robert Francis
The American eagle is not aware he is
the American eagle. He is never tempted
to look modest.
When orators advertise the American eagle’s
virtues, the American eagle is not listening.
This is his virtue.
He is somewhere else, he is mountains away
but even if he were near he would never
make an audience.
The American eagle never says he will serve
if drafted, will dutifully serve etc. He is
not at our service.
If we have honored him we have honored one
who unequivocally honors himself by
overlooking us.
He does not know the meaning of magnificent.
Perhaps we do not altogether either
who cannot touch him.
Well, I’m wearing orange and as close to maroon as I could find, and I’m having a really bad hair day, but it’s all okay because it’s Friday and my department is buying us a pizza lunch.
I’ve come to the conclusion that National Poetry Month is easily two weeks too long. I’ve just got far too many other things to think about, and if I thought anyone cared I might make room for the poems, but I really think they’re just the new manifestation of American Idol posts (i.e., things everyone skims over), so I’m letting them drop. It’s the end of the semester and I’ve got projects to complete, not to mention work, and the campaign.
Categories: Kappa Kappa Psi · Poetry · School · Work
Drafty Poem #17
kind of a “found poem” from the lyrics to the Virginia Tech fight song and alma mater.
Come – lift your voices!
We – the orange and maroon you see –
fear defeat no longer.
Our strife will not be long this day.
Showing life,
which never seems to die –
with hopes undying,
with spirit true and faithful –
Glory lies within this fray!
Swell the song! You know
our hearts are with you.
Categories: Poetry
Drafty Poem #16
Today is no day for poetry.
Light a candle. Draw, in your mind,
maps, webs, degrees of separation.
Pull the curtain. Watch the news
and the numbers – up, up, more.
Categories: Poetry
Drafty Poem #15
Ten hours onboard a bus
Driven by a stubborn old cuss
Gives this gal a pain
In the neck, butt, and brain -
Why must we have all this fuss?
Categories: Poetry
Drafty Poem #14
(with sincere apologies to Joyce Kilmer and your virgin eyes)
I THINK that I shall never see
A girl so lovely as these three.
A “girl” whose hairy legs are prest
Inside a smaller woman’s dress;
A “girl” that may in Vegas wear
Ribbons, hairclips, in short hair;
Upon whose bosom junk is stuffed
In order to create a bust.
In frocks before they’ve not been seen,
But conventions often make a Queen.
Categories: Poetry
Drafty Poem #13
Maurice was found, garroted, near his desk,
Six feet of ethernet around his throat.
The look upon his face was quite grotesque –
Surprised. His chance to fight the fiend? Remote.
A week went by before another died:
Old Peter Feye. The water cooler scene
Blood-red, a plastic knife pressed to his side.
His final act, a quest for hot caffeine.
We’re all afraid. The killer’s loose, and we
Are sure he works amongst us ev’ry day.
“Which cube is his?” I wonder nervously
At 6 PM – alone, to my dismay.
An awful night, tonight, to work so late –
This surely won’t improve attrition rates.
Categories: Poetry
Drafty Poem #12
I forgot to write
a poem today. Will this
bad haiku suffice?
Categories: Poetry
