 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.  Texas Coast-photo by Kiesha Shepard  Invitation to Write: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.
15 Comments
7/20/2017 10:17:50 pm
What a beautiful tribute to someone who sounds like they spent their life making a difference. 7/21/2017 05:34:24 am
I'm sorry for the loss of your friend, Kiesha. What a beautiful poem tribute to her. Having my own ocean time makes me love every line. It does "invite our wayward souls to linger". 7/21/2017 06:53:16 am
What a powerful poem and tribute, Keisha. I really appreciate how your loss has caused you to reach out to others as well as express yourself through poetry. 7/21/2017 09:30:52 am
My community lost a very devoted and young (45) mother of two boys that my kids go to school with this summer. The jolt of losing her has been rough on many. It is such a tribute that every person to a one who I have remembered her with remembers her dedication and love for her family. In that she really will live on. 7/21/2017 10:15:10 am
I'm sorry for your loss, Kiesha. Your friend sounds like she was passionate about working with kids. Beautiful poem. 7/21/2017 11:17:06 am
"Not all will hear the voice of the sea" rings true to me who is devout follower of ocean voices. Kiesha, this poem is a lovely tribute. You were able to weave the poem to soothe the soul and give rise to hope in your bonding in time. I have the invitation to Sunkissed Summer at my blog today and also see Underwater Dance from you in my folder. Let me know which digital inspirations you would like in the summer gallery. 7/21/2017 03:04:04 pm
I'm sorry for your loss, Keisha. Your poem is such a lovely tribute. I can feel the rhythm of the waves and tides pulling in each line. Words can be such a powerful source of healing and help in sorting through emotions when they seem overwhelming. 7/21/2017 03:04:44 pm
I so agree, Kiesha, that reading and/or writing poetry can be cathartic. I am terribly sorry for the loss of your dear friend and colleague.
Tabatha
7/22/2017 05:23:38 am
Splendid tribute for your friend, Kiesha. Sounds like she was very special. 7/22/2017 09:57:45 pm
Mary Lee Hahn
7/23/2017 04:29:40 am
Your poem is lovely in every way. The form and rhythm mirror the waves on the beach, and your words provide the push and pull feel of the water, the ebb and flow of life.. 4/16/2018 03:54:59 pm
Your poem affected life?! Yes, you can share your lovely poem and its great "after story" with the world... Submit now on LifePoemsProject.com Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWelcome! I'm Kiesha Shepard, and I have a love for writing and the teaching of writing. Whispers From the Ridge is a place where I can share my words and ideas for teaching writing. It's also a place for you to find inspiration for writing the words inside of you. I invite you into my world of writing as I capture the whispers from the ridge. 
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July
2 Laura at Laura Shovan 9 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche 16 Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone 23 Kat at Kathryn Apel 30 Becky at Sloth Reads August 6 Mary Lee at A(nother) Year of Reading 13 Christie at Wondering and Wandering 20 Carol at The Apples in My Orchard 27 Elisabeth at Unexpected Intersections September 3 Heidi at my juicy little universe 10 Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect 17 Denise at Dare to Care 24 Laura at Laura Purdie Salas October 1 Catherine at Reading to the Core 8 Irene at Live Your Poem 15 Bridget at wee words for wee ones 22 Jama at Jama's Alphabet Soup 29 Linda at TeacherDance November 5 Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference 12 Matt at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme 19 Carol at Beyond LiteracyLink 26 Ruth at there is no such thing as a God-forsaken town December 3 Michelle at Michelle Kogan 10 Cathy at Merely Day by Day 17 Jone at Jone Rush MacCulloch 24 Buffy at Buffy Silverman 31 Carol at Carol's Corner |
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Photos used under Creative Commons from Kristine Paulus, Ryan Hodnett, Marie Hale, gurdonark, btrentler, Kelly Colgan Azar, jeffreyw, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region
