Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome to the ridge! I am excited to be hosting the round up this week. Thanks for visiting, and be sure to leave your link for others to enjoy!

This week, I would like to share a few poems by one of my favorite poets, Paul Laurence Dunbar. He is known for his dialectic poetry collections, novels, essays, short stories, and other poems. If you would like to learn more about his life and accomplishments, HERE is a link to an article with more information.

The two poems I would like to share are "Sympathy" and "We Wear the Mask." Enjoy!
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Sympathy
BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
I know what the caged bird feels, alas!
    When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;   
When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,   
And the river flows like a stream of glass;
    When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,   
And the faint perfume from its chalice steals--
I know what the caged bird feels!

I know why the caged bird beats his wing
    Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;   
For he must fly back to his perch and cling   
When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;
    And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars   
And they pulse again with a keener sting--
I know why he beats his wing!

I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,
    When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,--
When he beats his bars and he would be free;
It is not a carol of joy or glee,
    But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core,   
But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings--
I know why the caged bird sings!

Paul Laurence. Dunbar, "“Sympathy.”" from The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar. (New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, )
Source: Twentieth-Century American Poetry (2004)

We Wear the Mask
BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,--
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
       We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
       We wear the mask!

Paul Laurence. Dunbar, "“We Wear the Mask.”" from The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar. (New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, )

A poet's words can often sustain us and change us all at once. With each word and line, our own emotions are unmasked. When we truly connect with a poem, it becomes a part of us. In this way, our favorite poems can be windows to our souls. Take some time to reread your favorite poems. Keep them close to you throughout the day. Memorize a line or the whole poem if you can. What do you value about these poems? How do the words of your favorite poems change you and sustain you? 

Happy Poetry Friday! Thanks so much for visiting the ridge. Be sure to head over to Dani's space HERE! You are sure to find poetry delights waiting for you! 

When I think about endurance, I think of a long distance runner. I picture the runner forging forward and getting stronger with each mile. There is pain. There is exhaustion. And despite all this, the runner surges forward. The runner knows something about what lies ahead. That's why the runner pushes past the pain and past the exhaustion. The runner knows that through endurance, there is triumph. The runner knows something else, too. At the end of the run, there is fulfillment in the journey.

Picturing the endurance of the runner, gives me hope. Whenever I feel like giving up, I think of the runner. I think of the courage and strength it takes to keep going. There must be many times the runner feels like stopping, but the runner understands what it means to endure. It's not easy, but it's necessary. I remind myself of this daily. I must endure to succeed. This poem is a reflection of what endurance means to me. It takes courage and strength to reach the finish line. When we do, we realize the true test was not the race but rather our endurance to push through our doubt along the way. The result, no matter what it is, changes us in unmistakable ways. In the end, we are better equipped to endure the next race.  

No matter what race you endure, remember that there is courage and strength with each step you take. Writing about times or situations that have tested your endurance can help you reflect and move forward. Take some time to jot down what endurance means to you. How have the things you've endured changed you or grown you?

Happy Poetry Friday, friends! This week, Tabatha is hosting the roundup at her space, The Opposite of Indifference. You'll find many poetry delights waiting for you there!

This week, I will be wrapping up a month long blog series centered around reflection. I have learned so much about myself as a writer throughout this series and will continue to do so, but the thing that has bubbled up the most for me throughout this process, is that response drives reflection. Response is a powerful action. Our response to reflection can spark so many new thoughts and purposeful change. The same thing is true when someone responds to our reflections. Our words and thoughts are validated. They matter. We all need someone to share our reflections with. Our responsiveness to life and to each other is worth sharing. 

We each have a unique voice to be heard. What makes yours unique? What is it that others might miss out on if you did not share your voice? What are you passionate about sharing with others? Write something you care about, something you want to stir up a bit. If you do, I invite you to share your learning reflections with the #TeacherMyth followers on Twitter. This group is also thinking deeply about reflective practices and the power of response. 

Happy Poetry Friday! Thanks for stopping by the ridge this holiday weekend. For more of the poetry festivities, visit Buffy's space HERE. I wish all of you a joyful holiday!
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This week, I am sharing a poem of resolution. When we make a resolution, we make a firm decision to do something or not to do something. In my experience, it is much easier for me to make a resolution than it is to keep it. I tend to be wishy-washy when it comes to making definitive decisions sometimes. I find myself resolving to do things that may be too far off in the distance to settle on so intently. Instead, I resolve to do better at setting my sights on doing and caring for things that are already in my current reality. Our sweet pony reminded me of this, each time I failed to acknowledge him when he stuck out his nose for me to give him a touch or a tickle. He made me realize, I must do better. Time must stand still for all the good in my life; all that is waiting to be seen.

Have you ever made a resolution? If so, take some time to write them down in your notebook or write down a new one. Writing poems of resolution can help you stay focused and committed to what's important to you. 

Happy International Peace Day and beyond! Our dear friend Amy is hosting the round-up this week at her poem patch, The Poem Farm.

The theme of this year's International Day of Peace is Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All. So what does "peace" really mean?

Webster's dictionary defines the word peace as:
1. a state of tranquility or quiet
2. freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
3. harmony in personal relations
4. a state or period of mutual concord between governments 

While these words describe the common definition of one of our favorite five letter words in poetry, I'm certain we could each give our own unique definition of what peace means to us. In fact, let's give it a try right now. Think about the word peace and what it means to you. How would you define peace in your life, work, and in your world? 

No matter how you describe it, a day of peace is a day shared with all humanity. And that's always something to celebrate.

I believe that peace is ours if we choose to nurture and share it. There is a home for peace in the hearts of all of us. Where can you create a space for peace to call home? How will you spread peace today? #PeaceDay #jointogether

Happy Friday friends! Join the Poetry Friday crew at Kat's space HERE.

Today, I am thinking beyond the ridge down to Houston and the gulf coast of Texas where so many lives have been rocked by a storm called Harvey. As you may have heard, many people have been displaced from their homes due to the destructive and devastating Hurricane Harvey. You can see this storm's wrath and read about its destructive path throughout the news. When things like this happen, I realize how important our connection to each other is. 

We all feel the swamps. We may all face the storms. Together, we can find our way home. Right now across the state of Texas and throughout the USA, so many people have joined together to provide comfort and help to those in need. It's truly amazing and inspiring to witness the generosity and kindness happening all around us. If you would like to help, there are many ways to do so. One great place to start is the American Red Cross. Our friends in Houston and South Texas could use all our thoughts and well wishes.

The impact of this storm called Harvey has made me reach for Mary Oliver's poem, "Crossing the Swamp". In this poem, Oliver speaks to the struggles and bogs of human life that we often encounter. Yet she speaks of hope, too. Throughout the entire poem there is a sense of determination and strength to re-root. These words are perfectly etched in a way that only Mary Oliver could craft. I do hope you have a chance to read it.

Today, I offer my own poetic response to Mary Oliver's inspiring poem that spoke to me after a storm called Harvey.

How will you brave each storm that may come your way? When you feel stuck in a swamp or flooded by a river, what guides you? I invite you to take a moment and write. Write until your words flow like a river. May they toss upon the page and land, re-rooting themselves home. 

Welcome to Whispers from the Ridge! I'm so glad you are joining me on this Poetry Friday. For all the poetry offerings this week, stop by Katie's space The Logonauts.

Today, I am honoring the memory of a dear friend of mine who passed away earlier this week. She was such an incredible motivator and mentor to so many. Many lives were inspired by her passion for her family and the work she loved. She will be sorely missed.

Yet, her dedication to children and her love of literacy will live on. Her belief in providing an authentic space for real readers and writers to create will continue to positively impact the lives of children in classrooms across our school district. 

When she wasn't putting her heart and soul into her leadership work as our district ELA curriculum coordinator, she was often hanging out at her special beach spot with her family.​ She loved the beach. It was where she would spend hours laying in a simple hammock with a notebook and a good book.

This poem is in loving memory of her and the place she dearly loved.

Writing can have the power to heal at times. Often times when we are having a rush of emotions, we can feel overwhelmed with all the words and feelings we want to express. Getting them written on paper can help pin them down. Once on the paper, we can begin to sort them out and make sense of them. Whenever you are full of a blur of emotions, try writing them down. Put the pen to the page, and let yourself go. Spilling thoughts and feelings onto the page during any emotional state can be good for the writer's soul.  

It's the eve of National Poetry Month! How exciting it is to have a whole month to celebrate poetry in all its glory. To kick it all off, our dear friend Amy is hosting the round-up today. You can find her at The Poem Farm where she is gathering and tending to all the poetry seedlings today.

The month of April will be filled with spring beginnings and blooming poetry. As winter bows to spring and ushers in a new season of change, I am reminded of what remains the same. There is such beauty in life's natural course. No matter the season, fulfilling a purpose-whatever that might be, is really the bones of it all.     

Today's poem sprouted from a single word. The word "bones" popped into my head as I sat outside admiring the winter trees one day. Maybe that happens to you sometimes. What do you do with words that pop into your head? Whenever this happens to me, I reach for my pen and immediately jot that word down. Then, I think of how I could use that word in a way that it is not normally thought of or used to describe something else. 

For example, when I was writing my poem, I thought about how the trees looked like bones without their summer leaves. I thought to myself, one does not typically think of trees as having bones. Yes, I was on the right track! This led me even further to thinking about how the word bones could be used to describe things in a different way other than the typical white pieces of skeleton in humans and animals. Can you find other words I used to describe or explain something in a different way other than the more common way the word is used?

So the next time a word pops into your head, be sure to write it down. Have some fun using the word in a different way than it is usually meant in order to describe something in a not so ordinary way!

Happy Poetry Friday! It seems the weeks are flying by. Soon this year will end and a new one will begin. It's definitely the time of year to celebrate memories with family and friends. You can also find lots to celebrate this week in the world of poetry by stopping at Tabatha's space The Opposite of Indifference. Thanks for the warm welcome, Tabatha!

This time of year I find myself walking the woods alone quite often. As I walk, I tend to lose myself in the flood of memories that return in the stillness of the winter landscape. I think back to my childhood and loved ones lost along the way. I think of others who also lament for family and friends who have gone away. I find that walking has a way of easing me as these thoughts swirl around in my mind. As I walk, I write. I write in memoriam of people and moments that have passed. This week, I am sharing a poem inspired by one of my spiritual walks this month.

Memories have a way of finding their way into our notebooks all the time. Take a moment to reflect on your memories from this past year. You might make a list of these memories by starting with the stem, In memoriam of...which means "in memory of" or "to the memory of.." This list might include people, places, or even objects you can remember and recall. Read through your list and choose a few to write from. Take that memory with you as you go for a long walk. I truly believe that walking can sharpen the mind and comfort the soul.

Happy November Poetry Friday friends! Be sure to visit Writing the World for kids, where Laura is graciously hosting today's round-up. 

Every year at the end of October, I place this jar with broken pieces of clay pottery on my mantle. I discovered each one in the soil after a heavy rainstorm had rumbled over the ridge. It was interesting to find them scattered in different areas of my backyard. These pieces are a link to the past and to the history of this beloved hill top I now call home. Though each one is unique, they are all made from the same clay. They are a reminder of all those who came before me and lived upon this land. While I will never know them or the stories of their life, I can honor them by preserving what remains.

Sometimes the stories of the past are left untold or may be easily forgotten with the passing of time. These shards of clay help me to remember. I feel that the past begs us to listen. It wants to tell the story. So I must listen. 

Think about the times you have stumbled across something you had never seen before or had been hidden away. It might be a time you found an interesting rock in the ground or maybe you found an old stuffed animal in a closet. Have you ever found something unexpectedly and wondered about where it came from? If you have, try imagining that it could speak to you. Listen. What is it saying to you? Let it tell you its story. It's when we truly listen, that the stories of the past unfold!