Thursday, August 11, 2022

#TankaTuesday #Poetry Challenge #SpecificForm @ColleenChesebro #4-11poem @gmplano #change


Hello, beautiful readers! I've missed a few poetry prompts because life has been busy, but I wanted to make sure to get this one posted. Last month, Colleen Chesebro chose my poem to highlight for the Specific Form week, and then she asked me to choose a form for this month's Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge

I wanted to try something different, and I remembered that Colleen had asked us months ago to create new poetry forms, so I perused that site and found this amazing form by Gwen Plano! She calls it The 4-11 because it consists of eleven lines of four syllables each  with the first line repeating at the end. I'm happy I chose this form because the poetry everyone is creating is amazing! You can check it out here.

As I previously mentioned, my life has been very busy. With school about to commence, it just got busier. For those of you who don't know me yet, I am a middle school teacher with a son who plays high school football, so there is never down time. Lol!

In my neck of the palm trees ;-), this week is when teachers start preparing for school to start. At the end of last school year, my classroom started dripping water from the a/c unit in the ceiling. It still hasn't been fixed; in fact, it's gotten much worse. 

So, I am now having to move classrooms while they start working to repair it. My anxiety disorder really hates change, so yesterday was quite overwhelming for me. I'm focusing on one hour at a time and reminding myself that it's just temporary. So, as I sat looking at my new empty classroom and meditated, this is what came to me:

I embrace change
it's not easy
sometimes I cry
frustration hits
overwhelms me
I can't give up
just take a breath
pause and reflect
to grow, to thrive
I must take risks
I embrace change

I head back today with renewed positive energy, ready to make my temporary classroom feel warm and inviting, not just for my students but also for me. Wish me luck! :-)

Do you want to try your hand at a new form of poetry? Click here!

28 comments:

  1. You’re so brave, Yvi. I hope the move goes smoothly for you. Wonderful choice of poetic form! I love it. Your poem so vividly reflects anxiety and dealing with it. It seems to me that whatever we have to overcome, we go through many of the same processes! Hugs and love, Harmony Kent 💕🙂

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Harmony! Yesterday was rough. I went from having to just move a few things to my temporary room to having to move everything by the end of the day. I am blessed to work with colleagues who saw me overwhelmed and dropped everything to help me. My new room looks like a hurricane went through it, but at least everything is out of my old room so they can start working on it today. :-)

      Delete
  2. Good luck! It's hard enough to start a new school year without having to leave your familiar room. But you have the right attitude.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kerfe! I appreciate the well wishes. Once my room is set up, I will feel much calmer. I love what I do and am excited to meet my new students. :-)

      Delete
  3. Change is not always easy. I hope things smooth out as the students return to the classroom. Great use of the prompt!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jan! One way or another, my room will be set up by Saturday (yes, it may take going in on Saturday to get it done). Then, I can focus on the fun stuff. Lol! :-)

      Delete
  4. I love this one, Yvette :) A perfection meditation. Fingers crossed the air is fixed soon. Xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Denise! My classroom was being worked on yesterday. It was roped off with biomedical hazard warning. My temporary classroom is almost ready for the start of school next week. I'm looking forward to my old classroom getting the care it needs so I can go back to it. :-)

      Delete
  5. Oh, Yvi... these kinds of situations are so frustrating!! It's all out of your control, my friend. I hope this new classroom gives you the energy you need to get your students' creativity soaring this year. Soon, you'll be back in your old classroom. I'm so glad you selected Gwen's form. Everyone has enjoyed the form so much. 💜

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Colleen! I've loved how everyone wrote something different using the poem. I appreciate your comforting words. My muscles are achy from moving everything, but that just means they needed the workout. Lol! :-)

      Delete
  6. The anxiety in this poem is so heartfelt and real. Good luck with all these unsatisfactory changes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Margaret! I appreciate the well wishes. :-)

      Delete
  7. The poem form you chose is a fantastic one. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks.
    Your poem: a meditation sure to work in any situation. And don’t forget to tap too, sweet girl. And remarks about the anxiety brought on: change is hard but I’m confident you’ll manage beautifully. All the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Selma! I am tapping and meditating again. I haven't needed it as much in the summer, but I definitely need it now. Thank you for the kind words. :-)

      Delete
  8. A lovely poem and I can feel your renewed strength and determination, Yvette. I don't know many of us who like change, but standing up to it and making something positive out of it is important. Wishing you a wonderful start to the school year. Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Diana! I am (very) slowly becoming more comfortable with change, or rather, I am learning not to resist it as much. Lol! I appreciate your well wishes and look forward to a great school year. :-)

      Delete
  9. "My anxiety disorder really hates change"

    I am SO with you, Yvette! This poem speaks to my most inner self...

    ~David

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sorry you can relate, but I hope this poem helps to quiet that voice within. Thanks for sharing, David! :-)

      Delete
  10. We live in a profound time of change. Your beautiful poem speaks to embracing what we can. Thank you for reminding me -- to take a breath. ❤️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm happy you connected with the poem, Gwen! Thanks for sharing that with me. :-)

      Delete
  11. Change is difficult for me too, so I can relate to your poem. It moved me. I hope the situation with your classroom gets resolved quickly. I’m wishing you all the luck in the world.🥰❤️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Vashti! I appreciate the well wishes. :-)

      Delete
  12. A beautiful and heartfelt message here, Yvette. I hope you are able to return to your classroom soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mark! So do I! The decontamination crew removed all the mold and affected walls, but now it's at a standstill because school is back in session. :-/

      Delete
  13. From Jules; Wishing your temporary change is quick and you can get back into your comfort zone. Thanks again for being a teacher! And I be a fantastic Mom too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, thank you for the kind words and the well wishes! I appreciate them, Jules! :-)

      Delete

I love comments, so please share your thoughts with me! :-)