Word Fix

When I think of Alex Caponigro I often think of white light. I...

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:10:29 -0400

When I think of Alex Caponigro I often think of white light. I did not know her that well but there was a small window of time when we saw each other almost everyday. She was so young and vital when she died over ten years ago. It still seems unreal. She has become an ethereal presence in my life…blowing through my thoughts when I make a still life like the one above, when I hear Philip Glass’s piano etudes, or like now when her birthday is coming up…May 28th. She is the light, the music, an iridescent memory.

Winter Poem for Alex 2002

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:54:00 -0400

Light of Venus

Sol the magnificent Sun

a glistening clear black winter’s night

Two in love

silver ocean star shine moon

the wind in May

You are made

of all these things

so you are here to stay.

Resistance in Cypress…first quarter of the moon...

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:43:28 -0400

Resistance in Cypress
…first quarter of the moon full…again…snow day tomorrow. Time and the world spins on…March 18, 2113

Two Together

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:38:27 -0500

Two Together

Two Together Two faces together and when they perish they will have done the small things that...

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:37:00 -0500

Two Together

Two faces together

and when they perish

they will have done

the small things

that make quiet lives

large.

They won’t know

that spelling is a curse.

They won’t know

the threat of fame.

Far sighted

Broad minded

Leveling of the head

Sculptors of words

woods

and worlds.

Two portraits

that fade to black.

Words that attack

a senseless war

a human nature

a culture of winning

a nation of dreamers

and schemers

believers.

Two pairs of eyes

cast down on a

Nation of lies

Apple pies

and

French fries.

Poem for Teresa

On the occasion of her visit

January 26, 2013

Companions in Battle: Animals of the Civil War

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 03:21:42 -0500

Companions in Battle: Animals of the Civil War:

As Union and Confederate soldiers left the comforts of home for the grim realities of war, many brought along family pets or adopted wild animals. Not only did these animals provide entertainment to lonely soldiers, they often became companions in battle, suffering alongside their regiments.

Twinkle,twinkle in the night…December 30,2012

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:58:35 -0500

Twinkle,twinkle in the night…December 30,2012

Mums the word…but you can still find a beautiful array of...

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:38:07 -0500

Mums the word…but you can still find a beautiful array of them at the Smith Botanical Garden. Flower bliss and there is a decent print show in the gallery.

True Blue Sunday. Luxuriating on the...

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 11:16:30 -0400

True Blue Sunday. Luxuriating on the breezeway…11:14am…after a big night of running with Harpo—-best buddy Golden-doodle—- and greeting our pie & bonfire party guests.

Doing some time travel this week from 33 C.E. to the 1960s...

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 19:13:00 -0400

Doing some time travel this week from 33 C.E. to the 1960s riding on a magic history carpet.

Black Power!!

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 18:50:00 -0400

Black Power!!

Update: Grad. School Daze

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:15:00 -0400

Haven’t been here in a Blue Moon—-literally, so here’s a little catch up….

End of Week II Intensive Teacher Training/M.Ed. UMass Springfield

I always know I’m in a time of heightened awareness when I hear a song (Bright Eyes’ Four Winds) I’ve listened to for years and realize I am getting the meaning of the words for the first time. This first two weeks of grad school has sped everything up, left less time for sleeping, made me have a laser focus on getting enough exercise and eating well. The “to do” lists are working. The FB page my classmates put up is giving all of us in the program a place to check-in with each other and get our questions answered without hounding our dear director who is struggling with a broken arm. It’s so great how we all know different stuff.

We were all in a good mood yesterday because it was Friday…we’d made it through another week. We had a chance to see each other Wednesday in our first meeting of Adolescent Growth & Development classand we shared our frustrations, challenges, hopes and fears. But during the Team Meeting for 9^th grade we got the news that a group of students were being suspended for possession and marijuana and weapons (a razor). One of the students involved is in our Crew (homeroom). He is a kid who exhibits leadership qualities. So I was so surprised and disappointed by this news. The honeymoon is over newbie teacher—-this is life in an inner city school.

Week IV

Time marches on and I never got to post the entry above because I was so caught up in all the work of the program. Mornings have turned cool and although I love the Indian Summer weather we are having I am ready for the fall change….cozy sweaters and boots, hats, scarves, and gloves. Professional dress up is still fun——this is the first time in my working life I have had a dress code. It certainly does make me feel grown up. There really is something childlike about working in art studios and making things all day.

Week VII

The second honeymoon is now over. I have spent the last two weeks realizing—-regrettably—-that my mentor teacher and I are not as good a fit as I had thought. Through the expert guidance of my site coordinator I managed to find another mentor. It was a week of setting up meetings and dash back and forth from one classroom to another observing other teachers. Finally on Friday—-yesterday 10.12.12—-it became official….I am moving from 9^th grade World History to 11^th grade U.S. History II. This requires a leap from 33 C.E. and the crucifixion of Jesus to 1966 and the development of the Black Panther Party. Time travel—-I love it!

When I told my 9^th grade Crew that I was leaving their Crew and World History there was a lot of moaning and asking: But Ms. Keats, why? Heart wrenching and quite flattering considering we’ve only been together two months. This is a good time to practice long distant friendships I told them——even though I am only around the corner and down the hall. This produced more moaning since to them “around the corner” is miles away from the classrooms they go in and out of all day. Have decided to make them a plate of scones to ease the Monday morning blues.

The news spread fast through the 9^th grade and soon I had other kids asking me why I was leaving their classroom. Upholding professional standards I lied through my teeth. “It’s my graduate degree program” I told them—-“I am required to teach World History and U.S. History this year.” They accepted this easily. My goal is to get hired at this school so I will have them all again in a year or two depending on where I land—-10^th or 11^th grade U.S. History. It’s amazing how close I feel to all 95 of these kids—-even the ones with behavior issues that force me to take them out in the hall and ask in my most concerned voice: hey, what’s going on with you today?

Black Power here I come!

There is a blue moon on the wax…full on Friday August 31....

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 22:06:36 -0400

There is a blue moon on the wax…full on Friday August 31. Practice your howl.

You heard about Block Island Day 1 and Day 4, but what happened...

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 19:25:00 -0400

You heard about Block Island Day 1 and Day 4, but what happened in between? There was a sunset and a party…

The summer romance of my blue beach chair. As you can...

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 08:43:00 -0400

The summer romance of my blue beach chair. As you can see….putting on the pink does lead to green leanings…and other things thanks to my perverted brother.

Photo: Mie Kurahara Is my chair pining for me? I think not. Yes,...

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 20:31:15 -0400

Photo: Mie Kurahara

Is my chair pining for me? I think not. Yes, I’m home. Back to the grind. Cleaning the house and clearing the way to the studio. But my chair is fancy free. Still at the beach. Having a soda and reading—-god knows what this time. Damn chair’s got a whole ‘nother week on the island.

Day Four…..going home. With just hours left of our island...

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 09:17:58 -0400

Day Four…..going home. With just hours left of our island get-a-way I am scurrying to write postcards, pack and get one more trip to the jetty in. It’s rained some everyday, but always cleared in time to go to the beach. We rode our bikes and got all sweaty under the humid sun then jumped into the blue-green Atlantic. Was hoping to have the thrill of scaring the bikini off of Mary with the sighting of a Great White, but no such luck.

Block Island…Day One

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 09:05:58 -0400

Ferry girl

Porthole

On the bow.

Rope

Morning sky

Block Island…Day One

It might be too hot to write…even now at half past...

Sat, 04 Aug 2012 00:54:20 -0400

It might be too hot to write…even now at half past midnight. Sounds of the nocturnals stream in the window. Even though I’m beat I don’t want to sleep. Reading James Attlee’s book about the moon sends me out to see it each night, but the bugs usually drive me in…bastards!

Yes, I have posted the dog-in-front-of-the-fan photo before elsewhere I am sure. Captures the mood of this night perfectly. Well…I am giving up and retreating to the air conditioned bedroom. Block Island…five days and counting.

While hinging a thousand pages today I looked up and saw this...

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:47:00 -0400

While hinging a thousand pages today I looked up and saw this photo booth snap shot of my parents, the only picture I have of them together. I’m guessing it’s about 1951, two years into their twelve year avalanche of a romance.

Jean and Bob sitting in a tree…K I S S I N G.

Her necklace. The curl of her hair around her ear. The tips of his fingers on her shoulder. The passion they felt for each other that shut out the rest of the world including her eight year old daughter. I close my eyes… what were the other pictures on the strip like? Laughing. Looking into each other eyes, solemn and jokingly serious. Smiling eyes looking right into the camera, cheeks pressed together and a moment’s hesitation on their lips.

I didn’t come along for another ten years, but my sister had to live through their teenage tumbling. My mother is 30 years old here. My father a year or two younger.