William Stafford

http://www.williamstafford.org/spoems/pages/youreading.html

You Reading This, Be Ready
William Stafford

Starting here, what do you want to remember?
How sunlight creeps along a shining floor?
What scent of old wood hovers, what softened
sound from outside fills the air?

Will you ever bring a better gift for the world
than the breathing respect that you carry
wherever you go right now? Are you waiting
for time to show you some better thoughts?

When you turn around, starting here, lift this
new glimpse that you found; carry into evening
all that you want from this day. This interval you spent
reading or hearing this, keep it for life –

What can anyone give you greater than now,
starting here, right in this room, when you turn around?

Absolutely my favorite poem by Stafford...

Stafford had a wide influence and it's no wonder he was named Poet Laureate of the U. S.  I love the encouraging, wise nature of his poetry....for me, it's like having a warm blanket placed over me.

Check out the Stenhouse Blog, a resource for teachers:  http://blog.stenhouse.com/archives/2010/06/18/poetry-friday-you-reading-this-be-ready/

Bad Boys (c)

Bad Boys

Came to Roberson School,

They had no other place to go.

They couldn't stay grounded,

And all of it sounded 

like the system struck the final blow.

Bad Boys

come through the metal detector.

They're frisked by the staff,

they sometimes laugh,

then become bitter and dash,

down the hall,

leaving behind cell phones and food

 Homework is left behind.

The students are behind.

No Child Left Behind. Ha!

And who is to blame?

Bad Boy --

Called his teacher a bitch.

Another pull the fire alarm.

The principal stood by,

did nothing but nod,

"It seems that they mean no harm."

Bad principal yelled

at the kids in the hall.

"Where is your pass?

I'm going to call

the police.

That will teach 

You to obey the rules."

Bad boys yell back,

and are getting suspended,

a day or a month or forever.

Bad principals stay 

And keep on offending

Good teachers who try to keep the peace.

Good teachers stay,

And keep on teaching

about poets and history and art.

Martin Luther King and the incredible things

he accomplished by doing his part.

His part to bring peace

in a non-violent way.

The letter he wrote on a warm spring day:

"Letter from a Birmingham Jail."

Some of the best writings have come

from prisons and seem

 to speak

volumes and teach

us to turn the other cheek.

Just like Jesus said.

Good teachers believe

that they plant a seed

then leave for other professions.

They write, they keep teaching,

continuing to make their confessions.

Confessions of how the arts

can transform

and build a nation of readers.

They continue to follow

ideas set by all the great leaders.

Leaders like King,

Jefferson,

Douglass,

Gandhi,

Ann Frank,

Kennedy,

and the student body president killed at UNC.

Never give up,

keep trying and see

how the answers will come, 

whether slowly or quickly,

they will come.

Bad boys go on

and continue to want

a new life for themselves.

Who knows where they'll go.

Maybe jail,

Maybe college.

Maybe to the White House.

Who knows?

.