Children's Writer & Sometimes Poet
I had a black grandfather not by blood, but in all the ways that mattered. From my infancy to his death bed his gentle soul left a heartprint on mine. I learned about unity seeing my black grandfather, born 1900, and my white grandfather,… Continue Reading “Black Lives Matter in My White Life”
Absolutely relentless. As soon as the liftgate is open, these two jump in. I call them out so I can load the first suitcases. They jump back in. Call them out so I can add the cooler. They jump back in. And this pattern… Continue Reading “Relentless”
On September 12, 2001
I stood before my class
of confused and scared third graders
and lied.
My daughter was at volleyball camp and I had a rare afternoon alone with my son. I offered to go for a bike ride with him and get some ice cream. He turned that down. Granted, it was raining a little. Instead, he said… Continue Reading “No Excuses!”
Sound the alarm! Sound the alarm! There’s a rumbly monster outside! It’s getting nearer. Stand guard! It’s getting closer. Louder now! It’s coming for us! Ready? Bark Attack! It’s passing us! We’ve got it running for cover! You better keep going you yellow-bellied giantly… Continue Reading “5 am on duty”
Phillip Larrea, a poet from California, is credited with creating the poetic form called Tricube. It is deceptively simple. Three stanzas. Three lines per stanza. Three syllables per line. Time to play! First Day Pencils sharp Clothes sorted Haircuts trimmed Dawdling girl excited boy… Continue Reading “Playing with Tricube Poetry”