Listen
The cry for help from this fifteen-year-old boy was not heard.
The poem was written two years before he committed suicide:
To Santa Claus and Little Sisters
Once...
he wrote a poem
And called it “Chops."
Because that was the name of his dog,
and that’s
what it was all about.
And the teacher gave him an “A"
And a gold star.
And his mother hung it on the kitchen
door and
read it to all his aunts...
Once...
he wrote another poem.
And he called it “Question Marked Innocence."
Because that was the name of his grief
and that’s
what it was all about.
And the professor gave him an “A"
And a strange and steady look
And his mother never hung it on the kitchen door,
because he never let her see it...
Once...
at 3 a.m....he tried another poem...
And he called it absolutely nothing,
because that’s
what it was all about.
And he gave himself an “A"
And a slash on each damp wrist,
And hung it on the bathroom door
because he
couldn’t reach the kitchen.
http://www.sena.org/v1i3suicide.html
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"When I take Spot out for a walk,
It's sometimes hard to see,
If I'm taking him for a walk,
Or if he's taking me. “
by Annette Ring, age 8
(from “I caught a poem" – editor Helen Hogan).
http://wwwfp.education.tas.gov.au/English/autumn.htm
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Meaning Making
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My Big Toe
My big toe is an honest man
So down to earth and normal;
Always true unto himself
And pleasantly informal;
Full of simple energy,
Contented with his role
If all of me was more like him
I'd be a happy soul.
(from “Short notes from the long history of happiness")
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25 Reasons I owe my mother for my Education
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL
DONE .
'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I've just finished
cleaning.'
2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
'You'd better pray that will come out of the carpet.'
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL .
'If you don't straighten up, I'll knock you into the middle of next
week!'
4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
' Because I said so, that's why.'
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
'If you fall off that swing and break your neck, you're not coming
shopping with me.'
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.'
7. My mother taught me IRONY
'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
'Just look at that dirt on the back of your neck!'
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.'
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
'Your room looks as if a tornado went through it.'
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
'If I've told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't
exaggerate!'
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE .
'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out of it.'
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
'Stop acting like your father!'
15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't
have wonderful parents like you do.'
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
'Just wait until you get home.'
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
'You are going to get it when you get home!'
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to stay that way.'
19. My mother taught me ESP.
'Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?'
20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
'When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me.'
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'
22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
'You're just like your father.'
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?'
24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'
25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE
'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.'
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Cross-generational Modelling
