What Really Counts?: Happy National Poetry Month!

See more from Carmen Graber here this year. She teaches 8th grade English Language Arts, a grade whose students take part in a district-wide poetry slam each year. She wrote this poem while working with her students on their poetry slam poems. Is it really what's inside that counts?

On the Outside

It’s what is on the inside that matters.

How many times have you heard that?

How many times have you said that?

To a child, to a teen, to a friend.

Words of comfort

From well-meaning persons

To make someone feel better.

But what about the tears

Sliding down the cheeks

Of a young boy

Trying to hide the bruises.

Those are on the outside-

Does that mean they don’t matter?

What about the thin red lines

Appearing on the arm

Of a young girl

Trying to end the pain.

Those are on the outside-

Does that mean they don’t matter?

What about the anger and rage

Of a teenage boy swallowing steroids

So he can make the team.

The explosions are on the outside -

Does that mean they don’t matter?

What about the protruding ribs and bones

Of the teenage girl

Starving herself to become model thin.

Those are on the outside -

Does that mean they don’t matter?

What about the emptiness and despair

Prominently displayed on the faces

Of a young man or young woman

Whose forever after has suddenly ended.

Those are on the outside -

Does that mean they don’t matter?

What are we missing

By only looking to the inside?

Not everything on the outside

Is superficial.

Sometimes -

The outside provides a window

Into the soul of the people around us

And together that is what matters.

                                     ~cjgraber (c) 2018

How to Live "In Spite" of Hardship: Happy National Poetry Month!

Teacher, poet, friend Carmen Graber graced these pages last year here, here, and here. I'm pleased to have her back with this poem, which was inspired by a friend's daughter who was having health issues in high school and maintained such a positive attitude through it all. May you also be inspired, and if you are, please leave a comment for Carmen.

In Spite

In spite of my fears, I will be brave
In spite of my sorrow, I will laugh.
In spite of my hurt, I will love.
In spite of my pain, I will face each day.
In spite of all the world throws at me,

I will LIVE!
Because:
In spite of my faults, God loves me.
In spite of my weakness, God strengthens me.
In spite of my doubts, God encourages me.
In spite of my silence, God hears me.
In spite of hard times,God blesses me.

                                    ~cjgraber © 2018

Bully Behavior: National Poetry Month

Carmen Graber teaches poetry to her 8th graders, and they share their poems aloud. She writes and shares along with her students. This one stunned them. You'll see why.

Pinball (for my 8^th grade students) 

by Carmen Graber

Words shoot out of mouths

Like a pinball launching from the starting chute.

The words ricochet off the hallway walls

Bruising and battering unsuspecting students.

Points can be scored for claiming

“She is my friend”

“I am just joking and having fun”

“He doesn’t mind”

You score extra points

If you light up

A student’s fear and

Make him or her feel insecure.

Be careful though,

You don’t want to cause the game to tilt!

You are racking up the points;

But then the teacher comes out

With a look of scorn

And tells you

“knock it off-get to class”

Your fun is destroyed-

This round is finished.

But not to fret.

Another round is waiting in the chute.

This time when you launch,

The rules have changed.

The flippers turn into hands

Which slap the back of someone’s neck.

It’s a game you say.

No harm done.

But the marks are there

This time more evident than the words

But both are destructive.

There are pieces of students

Splattered on the walls

Trampled under foot,

Lost in the commotion.

Until that teacher comes over again

“keep your hands and your words to yourself”

And this time you hear

“game over”

But only till the game resets

And you start another round.

Here are some anti-bullying resources: Stop Bullying Stomp Out Bullying, and the program used in our local schools, Olweus. And a list of books for kids with an anti-bullying theme.

Bullying is not a game. Pinball is!

Teddy Bear Loyalty: National Poetry Month

Many children have toys or blankets that give them comfort and act as a friend when there's no one else around. I had a Raggedy Ann that I wore to shreds. Here's a poem from Carmen Graber, reminiscing about her teddy bear.

Random Thoughts of Teddy

Teddy was my best friend

Not an original name for a teddy bear

But, hey

I was only 3 years old.

Keeper of my secrets,

Sharerer of my tea

at afternoon tea parties.

Protector of my nights

when shadows turn frightening.

Then we both had to go to the hospital:

Teddy to get more stuffing in his neck

And to fix his nose where I bit him.

Me to have my eyes fixed-

No, not to get my tonsils taken out like everyone else.

Patches over both eyes,

Sleeping in a bed with sides up like a crib.

I couldn’t see it,

But I heard the rasp of the railing

As it was pulled upward until it clicked.

And the doctor saying

“it won’t hurt”

As he ripped the patches off.

Kicked him in the shin.

That will teach him to tell a lie.

Grandma Lil gave me a white cat;

Not a real one-mom would never allow that.

Didn’t need Teddy as much when I got home.

He got stuck between the wall and the bed,

His new stuffing all scrunched up funny.

Then we moved to a new house.

Where was Teddy?

Did he get packed?

I have read stories about dogs that walk for miles

Just to find their owners.

Could Teddy do that too?

Not to worry-Teddy is here.

Best friends again.

Went to visit Grandma Lil

Took Teddy and the white cat

When we got home, only the white cat was in my bag.

Grandma Lil said not to worry

Teddy was with her

She would mail him to me.

How would he breathe?

Would she put holes in the box?

Would he be afraid in the dark?

Finally he arrived-at the big stone building-

The box had my name on it.

Never so happy to see my best friend Teddy.

I will never let you out of my sight again.

Then came junior high

Roller skates, boys, new friends.

Don’t know when Teddy got lost.

Asked my mom-she didn't know-

"Look in the closet in the basement".

Got distracted-forgot to look.

Went to college,

Got a job and place of my own.

I haven’t thought about Teddy for a long, long time.

Now I am old and I wish Teddy was here.

What toy do you remember fondly? What memories does that conjure up? Do you still have that toy? Please share in the comments below.

Carmen's poem reminded me of this famous rhyme for kids:

Exploring Fragile: National Poetry Month

Most of us have times in our lives when we feel fragile. Some of those are more serious and life-altering than others. Today I'm pleased to introduce Carmen Graber, 8th grade language arts teacher and poet.

Fragile

“easily broken, shattered, or damaged”

never would I have used this word

in conjunction with me or my life.

But one phone call

one word - cancer-

broke my soul

shattered my reality

damaged my world.

I collapse;

my breath stolen from me.

Gasps of fear

bursting colors of emotions

explosions of words and questions.

I feel broken, shattered and damaged:

fragile.

How can I go on?

Can I go on?

How can I face others?

How can I let them see me as fragile?

A whisper of air

A tremor of strength

A flow of love.

The ultimate showing of trust-

allow those you love to see you vulnerable - fragile.

A hug, a hand, a word-

not from pity,

but from love, concern, and hope.

I am not alone.

I am not broken.

I am not shattered.

I am not damaged.

I AM NOT FRAGILE!

Together, we are stronger than cancer!

~carmen graber

How would you define "fragile" for yourself? How has poetry or art helped you overcome your fragility? Feel free to leave a comment for Carmen below and share this poem with anyone who is feeling fragile. Thank you, Carmen, for allowing me to post your powerful poem.