On linen and straw lay a birth and a death. God hedged by flesh shepherds, magi. ∞ It pleases us to imagine God just born, vulnerable delivery's slick dross clings the ache of mortality. ∞ It's comfortable: God on bovine-scented straw held in woman's arms and a lowly one at that. ∞ It's Christmas: …
Category: Poetry
Considering Death This Christmas? Read T.S. Eliot’s “Journey of the Magi”
I'll never forget the first time I read "The Journey of the Magi" by T.S. Elliot. Think: Passion of the Christ, sub magi. This poem is deep and dark and human, revealing the grit that's glossed over by art and centuries. All I knew of the magi is they were funny-looking little men-dolls we set …
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5000 Words Poetry Lesson, 10-13 Year-Olds
I nearly jump out of my seat when students come up with bold, fresh images that sound like something out of open mic night. A year ago I decided to teach them simile. "A cat is like a kitten," someone offered. Now I have them churning out similes like: disappointment tastes like rocks. Fourteen tweens gather …
I is for Invictus
The first words ever to move me were penned by William Earnest Henley just after his leg was amputated. "Invictus" was put on a screen in my 8th grade English classroom for a rhyme scheme lesson. I furiously copied every word, oblivious. Henley's words challenged my view of myself as a leaf in the wind. It …
Timothy McVeigh & I Agree on One Thing
My favorite poem was basically written by the one-legged pirate, Long John Silver. What's worse, my favorite poem was also the favorite of Timothy McVeigh, infamous building-bomber-baby-killer, who went so far as to quote it just before leaving this world by lethal injection in June, 2001. I remember thinking that McVeigh was about to meet …
Nothing’s More Fun Than Doing The Assignments I Give My Students
The Assignment: A 10 line iambic pentameter conceit poem. His Favorite Pair of Jeans He once compared me to a pair of jeans, Velveteen-threadbare, torn, and faded jeans. We were as close as clothing then, denim Dressed and pressed against each other. Thirteen Years my best friend. So best he could forget The holes, the …
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The Hardest 5000 Words Assignment I’ve Given Yet…
I know this because it's 5:25 PM and only half of my students have posted their work. I've received several emails about how difficult this assignment is, as well as some flat-out I'm-not-doing-this communications. I get it. Some prompts are harder than others. But the ones who did the assignment-- who did what I asked-- …
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The Agnostic Goes to Church
Brittle as my polish was, and subject to my ensemble's perfection; yet it so swiftly deteriorated, as if God wanted that I should not be wearing my best, but honestly clothed in the dust I carried around each day, and would become soon enough. Impulse buying does not work with God. He wanted me to …
KL Griffiths 