In Flanders Fields
In Flanders Fields John McCrae In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the...
Category: Inspiration and encouragement
In the Garden- An 1899 Excerpt
This time of year I am besotted by the garden, and have great difficulty staying indoors for any length of time at all. In fact, anything on my horizon that doesn’t need to be fed or planted seems dim and...
In Memory of Old Yeller- 199?-2007
He was old and his sweet muzzle was white, but we weren’t really ready to say good-bye. But as we prepared to tuck in for the night last evening, I realized that I hadn’t seen Old Yeller for a good...
Coleridge on Math; Music for “Kubla Khan”
I have been coping with computer disasters of astonishing magnitude over the last week or so, but I had to share this wonderful quote with you. Leave it to a poet to tell the truth so very vividly! “I have...
TV Turn-Off Week- Why Not Just Toss It?
Turning off the television is always a fabulous idea. I don’t have one to turn off, but if I did, I’d certainly be happy to celebrate TV Turnoff Week. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to sit and stare...
Death Be Not Proud
In memory of those who died at Virginia Tech, April 16, 2007. Death Be Not Proud by John Donne (1573-1631) Death be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for, thou art not so, For, those, whom...
Frost’s Prayer in Spring
I love Robert Frost’s gentle reminder to enjoy the beauty of today. It helps me remember to enjoy not only spring, but also my sweet boys. I hope you enjoy the poem as well. A Prayer in Spring by Robert...
I wandered lonely as a Cloud…
Spring just isn’t spring until I can share Wordsworth’s delight in daffodils. Poetry is experience distilled to its essence. Once you’ve enjoyed an experience through poetry, you’ll find that both experience and poem are enriched. The daffodils are in full...
Enjoying Spring With Thoreau
I took my own advice this afternoon and went for a walk outside. It was a beautiful, balmy afternoon, so I walked the path my boys made through the woods for me, then went down to sit by the creek...
Spring & Compulsory Schooling- Carpe Diem!
I’m thinking about spring, and the need to seize the day, and do the thing that is appropriate for the moment. It’s time to emerge from our winter cocoons! Spring means being outdoors, breathing great gulps of crispy-fresh air, moving...
Thoughts on Choosing Literature from a 1903 Reader
I love old books. Although I strongly advocate reading whole works for high school literature, I find that old readers can be very useful in introducing an author and creating a taste for his or her work. I was browsing...
