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Friday, December 4, 2020

WHAT IN THE HECK CAN ONE PERSON DO?

 Howdy, Campers, and Happy Poetry Friday! (my poem and a link to PF is at the end)

Our topic this round? A Favorite Book, Poem, or Quote.  Gwendolyn started us by recommending the book, I SEE YOU-I SEE MYSELF; Carmela followed with 3 Favorite Books + an Inspiring Song; Bobbi came next with a wonderful quote from Emma Dryden and more; Esther cheers us on with Three 2020 Favorite Books to Keep Us Keepin' On; now it's my turn.

I love quotations. Like so many of us, I collect them. And when I teach onsite, every week I paste quotes on walls and windows of my classroom which reflect that week's topic. I have lots of favorite political quotes, too. But one in particular has kept me afloat all year. It's been in my files and by my side in the past, but this year I wrote it on our bathroom wall (which is a whiteboard). 

Today I wrote to a dear friend: You sent 160 Vote Forwards?!?!! Wowee, Rooti, way to go!

I just taught class #9 of 10. It's been like a long walk through the Valley of Death, this business of  learning how to teach on Zoom, but now I feel I'm on the other side of the valley...

There was a day in early summer that I broke down from the craziness of technology, screwed-up passwords, fears of Covid, isolation, mising my son, our "toddler-in-chief" etc. I wailed like a banshee. Gary said in the 40 years we've been together he's never seen me that dark. 

But now my class is almost over and it's been rewarding in so many surprising ways. And there's hope on the political horizon thanks in part to you, Rooti.

And one quote has helped me walk through it all:






The following is what I call a Golden Quote poem. Modeled after Golden Shovel poems, the last word of each line forms a quote.

ONE BIRD
by April Halprin Wayland

Once there was one

bird. Such a lonely little bird. No person,

no fellow sparrow, no tin can

to roll around rocks. Only

a wee plant, its round leaves shining, as leaves do.

That bitter winter, those round leaves wilted. So

Little Bird wrapped her wings around the plant. Did it help? It helped so much.

poem and drawings © 2020 April Halprin Wayland. All rights reserved

One person can only do so much.

One person (or bird) can only do so much.

What's your favorite quote?

Thank you, Mary Lee for hosting PF at A Year of Reading!


posted with a deep breath of gratitude for you,dear readers, and for my students this quarter who are very forgiving by April Halprin Wayland, with help from her trusty hiking partner, Eli-the-old-but-hanging-in-there-dog.

Today's hike tired Eli out.

16 comments:

  1. I hear you. Amen. I love quotes also. And, I'm tired. I'm tired of being tired. I miss people. I miss students. This really isn't fun any more. It never was fun, really. The death of so many, the lack of leadership by the few. It's just so much for any or all of us to handle.

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    1. Yes Linda. And yet...there are some moments--more, lately-- when the clouds part and I feel genuinely happy. I hope you experience a few of these moments, too.

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  2. Hi dear April! I have had several things through the year that pushed me down, so I kind of understand that fear of will it ever be different. I know you do so much to help in the political world & I have found that working to help campaigns as much as I could did help. But now I fear that my family won't be able to gather this year & I'm sad. My quote, though I love so many, that keeps me going: ""Let's just muddle through today. That's what I say. We can't take care of tomorrow until it gets here." Elizabeth George Sending good wishes to you!

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    1. That's a good quote, Linda! One of my friends has a sign above her computer that says, "Oh, well."... Which has helped me a lot over the years!

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  3. April, that is a great quote. I often think of the teachers on the front lines. I know there are many rewards and you have much to feel proud about, but I know it must be hard. Yikes, the passwords, etc! And I loved your poem and how your little bird found a way to help at the end.

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    1. Thank you, Janice. Yes, the passwords and technical tangles before even being able to get onto UCLA's website to begin to build my class... Oy! It always astonishes me that I've gotten through something that felt insurmountable...

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  4. April, I love your poem and your quote. It's so true. Sometimes the darkness grabs hold of me, and those days are so hard. Like so many other, I won't get to be with my family this year. It makes me so sad. We'll do a virtual Christmas. I'm just so grateful for technology and all the blessings in my life. Here is a quote I like: "Always remember to fall asleep with a dream and wake up with a purpose."







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    1. "Fall asleep with a dream and wake up with a purpose..." That's wonderful! Thank you for sharing that, Linda.

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  5. This quote. This poem.
    Thank you for helping me to launch our study of citizenship -- of what Democracy looks like AFTER the voting, AFTER the election.
    Wow.
    Thanks.

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    1. Thank YOU, Mary Lee. I hope that you, like me, can breathe easier since the election. My body feels less constricted. And,of course,there's always work to do!

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  6. Such a lovely quote turned into such a lovely poem. I think we all needed to read this. Thank you!

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    1. Your comment makes me feel so good, Kimberly. Thank you!

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  7. Dear April, I love your poem and the wonderful drawings that go with.
    Regarding quotes: this year I've found myself repeating the phrase: "This too shall pass." Looking forward to a better 2021!

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  8. Yes, yes, Carmela--luckily we've lived long enough to know that these things DO pass. I also take great comfort in the Serenity Prayer. xox

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  9. It's so true! One person CAN do SO MUCH!

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  10. Ruth--isn't this quote empowering? I can breathe when I read it. Big things ARE possible.

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