To My Dear Students,

Dare
To try.
If you fall,
I will catch you.
When you fly,
I will cheer you on.


Mr. Goree


I spent more time in the classroom today, getting ready for the new school year.  I got more and more confident as the day went on, that I would be ready for my students when they walk into my room.  I wanted to find a quote, or make up my own about “winning” or “success.”  Then I realized, they will win, and they will succeed.  What I really want them to know is that they will win and they will succeed, and on the path to reaching those goals I will be as excited as they are about getting there, and if they stumble off the side of that path, I will help them back on their way.

I want them to know these things all year long, so I put it on their desk mats.  They will see that poem every day, and on those days when I don’t seem thrilled with their effort or behavior, they will have a reminder that I have faith in them.  Dopey, huh?

Silent, But for Me

Silent,
But for me

Books
Stacked high
Books
Set askew
Books
All silent

Boxes
Piled high
Boxes
Hiding treasures
Boxes
All silent

Files
Scattered wide
Files
In crates
Files
All silent

Pencils
Standing sharpened
Pencils
Piled dull
Pencils
All silent

Posters
Stapled up
Posters
Sharing hints
Posters
All silent

Desks
In pairs
Desks
Are waiting
Desks
All silent

Flag
Hangs unruffled
Flag
Watches over
Flag
Is silent

Air
Sits still
Air
Warm, stuffy
Air
Is silent

Silent,

But for me

Ken Goree 

I'm sitting in my classroom, contemplating a new school year.  While trying to get my room ready for children who won't be here for another eight days.  Some of the faces that come through the door will be familiar to me.  I've seen them around the building.  Some will walk in with fear in their eyes; they'll soon feel at home, comfortable, safe.  Some will come in angry, defensive, noisy; they'll soon feel at home, comfortable, safe.  Some will come in feeling at home, comfortable and safe.  I'll help them stay that way.

But right now, I have to make the room presentable; have to get ready for the ones who matter.

The Darren Poem

There once was a man named Darren
For his property he’s  always carin’
He rode round cuttin’ grass
While he sat on his ass
“Ken should be doin’ this,” he was swearin’


Ken Goree


A little crude, but that is what limericks are supposed to be, right?  (Actually, a true limerick is suppose to be raunchy and taboo breaking).  As I write this, Darren is probably waking up to his second day of lawn mowing … it is a lot of lawn!   I have to credit Tonja with the initial idea for writing a poem about Darren mowing the lawn, though she probably didn’t expect me to make a limerick out of it.

Crust

I like my crust
I keep it near the top
Above it I keep my
Smiles and silly slop

I like my crust
I keep it above
The gooey parts of me
The places that cry and love

I like my crust
I keep it intact
Because I don’t like how it feels
Each time it gets cracked


Ken Goree

Bejeweled

As night
Quietly approaches
Friends gather
Circling, expectant
Sudden friction
Brings Light
As match
Touches tinder
Fire tongues
Lick upward
Spreading heat
And flame
While summer
Day departs
Joyous laughter
From Children
Old stories
From Elders
In light
Of fire
All life
Is good
And darkness
Is bejeweled


Ken Goree