Just some nature photos from a woodland walk today. So good to walk in the forest! Look up, look down. Beauty. Even on cloudy days? Yes, even then. Look closely.
And watch out for those squirrel and chipmunk holes… just the right size to trip me when walking. So I am looking DOWN as well as up for sure!
Not a gorgeous day, but a certain peacefulness in the quiet of coolness.
Thanks for reading.
Some of my poems, short stories, and nonfiction articles are included in books and magazines published in the UK, Greece, New Zealand, and the United States.
“The Night is Our First Language,” poem, published in The Poetic Bond VIII print issue, November 2018,
“Click” and “They Left the Bed,” poetry published in The Poetic Bond VIII print issue, November 2018.
*”Moving Gravel” a short story at Crack the Spine – Themed Anthology Submissions – -“Routine”, print edition, 2018.
*”Walk With Child” at https://www.snapdragonjournal.com/ September 2018 Issue, “Here and Gone.”
*Coffin Bell Journal,2018, “Herstory,” a poem, published October 2018,https://coffinbell.com/herstory-lesson/
*Spillwords Press, 2018, a poem, “Stopped” by Laura Lee at Spillwords Press.
*Tuck Magazine, June 2018, a poem at Tuck Magazine.
*Tuck Magazine, May 2018, a poem at Tuck Magazine.
* Southernmost Point Guest House (UK), poetry.
* Journal of Modern Poetry 21 (Volume 21), “Hell, No,” a poem at JOMP Volume 21 Dear Mr. President.
* Journal of Modern Poetry 20 (Volume 20), JOMP Volume 20 Poetry Writer’s Guide to the Galaxy.
* Journal of Modern Poetry 17 (Volume 17), JOMP Volume 17.
* Magazine (New Zealand) , Raewyn Alexander, Publisher
Raewyn Alexander NZ
* Fiction in: http://staxtes.com/2003/
“Between the Sunlight and the Skipping” in English Wednesdays
*Poetry in: https://poetsagainstthewar.org/ Archives
* Illinois English Bulletin, a publication of the National Council of Teachers of English, nonfiction article about teaching in an alternative education program.
* Poetry in Marginalia, Elmhurst, IL
Grateful to these publications and their hard-working dedicated staff. Thank you.
Some of my poems, short stories, and nonfiction articles are included in books and magazines published in the UK, Greece, New Zealand, and the United States.
“Click” and “They Left the Bed,” poetry published by The Poetic Bond VIII print issue, November 2018,
*”Moving Gravel” a short story at Crack the Spine – Themed Anthology Submissions – -“Routine”, print edition, 2018
*”Walk With Child” at https://www.snapdragonjournal.com/ September 2018 Issue, “Here and Gone”
*Coffin Bell Journal,2018
“Herstory,” a poem, to be published October 2018
*Spillwords Press, 2018, a poem, “Stopped” by Laura Lee at Spillwords Press
*Tuck Magazine, June 2018, a poem at Tuck Magazine
*Tuck Magazine, May 2018, a poem at Tuck Magazine
* Southernmost Point Guest House (UK)
Poetry
* Journal of Modern Poetry 21 (Volume 21), “Hello No,” a poem at JOMP Volume 21 Dear Mr. President
* Journal of Modern Poetry 20 (Volume 20)
JOMP Volume 20 Poetry Writer’s Guide to the Galaxy
* Journal of Modern Poetry 17 (Volume 17)
JOMP Volume 17
* Magazine (New Zealand) , Raewyn Alexander, Publisher
Raewyn Alexander NZ
* Fiction in: http://staxtes.com/2003/
“Between the Sunlight and the Skipping” in English Wednesdays
*Poetry in: https://poetsagainstthewar.org/ Archives
* Illinois English Bulletin, a publication of the National Council of Teachers of English, nonfiction article about teaching in an alternative education program.
* Poetry in Marginalia, Elmhurst, IL
Today I met a woman about my age. She told me how many times her children thanked her for moving to America to give them opportunities they would not have had in their small town, which she characterized as small, unsafe, lots of guns, lots of drug dealers. She raised five children here in America, all in college or college graduates. And now it is her turn, she said, to go to school.
I was so bitter and angry growing up I never thanked my parents for anything, not even the now obvious sacrifices they made so we children could go to good schools. I was too busy feeling like a victim to appreciate they sacrificed a lot–I didn’t see it at all.
As I walked in the woods this afternoon, I was full of regret.
Is it possible to thank the dead?
All I could think to do was embrace the beauty around me, the trees, wildflowers, gorgeous sky and say thank you, Mom and Dad, I wish I had thanked you while you were alive.
I hope my life itself and my embracing of literacy have shown my appreciation, but I doubt it. I took it as my due while I tried to distance myself from my family, my neighborhood, and especially my father.
Thank you, Mom and Dad. I wish I had told you that while you were alive. While you were far from perfect and even destructive at times, I acknowledge you made big sacrifices so we could have a better life.
How I wish I had told them that while they were alive– thank you for the sacrifices you made so we could have a better life. No, that’s not good enough.
Thank you for helping me have a good life.
Today I met my new student at the public library nearest to where she lived. I had never been there before, so didn’t know what to expect.
We met just when the library opened, on a work day, thinking NO ONE would be there.
How wrong we were! The parking lot was FULL fifteen minutes before the library opened; young parents were there with their children; senior citizens were waiting to get in and use the computers; job seekers were waiting to use the resources there. How did I know this? I observe people and listen well. Furthermore, once the library opened I saw where they went and what they were doing.
When I was in graduate school the first time, I worked at a local library. It was one of my favorite jobs ever. That library was so busy with job seekers, senior citizens, students, parents, children–extremely busy. I wondered if a public library would be so busy anymore, with people using the internet at home.
That question has been answered.
This library? Study rooms. Glass walls and ceilings to let in natural light. Vending machines with coffee and snacks. Books, books, books and so many other materials.
This is what I noticed in my short time there.
And the hours? This library is open 72 hours a week!
Not all public libraries are so fortunate, so beautiful, so accessible. Which is a shame, since it appears people need and use their public libraries for a variety of purposes. This library is not in a wealthy area, but it is in an area that supports its library and voted a few years ago to increase their own taxes to update and improve the library. This town also has some factories which pay taxes, so they are indeed fortunate to be able to afford this great library.
Lesson learned today? Support your local public libraries, America! They are a great investment.
Thanks for reading.
There is very little dearer to my heart and mind than literacy in its many forms; expression and communication across the miles and years is nearly miraculous, in my opinion. I cannot say if I love reading or writing more, for I spend so much of my life reading and writing! If I am not reading or writing, I am often thinking IN WORDS… and thinking about reading and writing. I teach reading and writing. I practice reading and writing. My hobbies include READING AND WRITING.
I go to book discussions. I take literature classes. I write poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. I take creative writing classes. I submit poetry and fiction for publication, and SOME RARE TIMES I get published.
I’m rather boring, aren’t I? I am so much about reading and writing.
I’ve seen firsthand how literacy can improve and even save lives. That’s how strongly I believe in the importance of literacy.
My own personal literacy story is still to come, but I will say I am one who was probably saved from a miserable life partly by the ability to read and write well. (Then there is also the out of control work ethic and stubbornness, but those are stories for later as well.)
This Friday, after completing the second full day of training, I meet the student I will be working with for at least the next six months. I have come full circle, since decades ago I was an adult literacy tutor through Laubach Literacy International, now merged with Literacy Volunteers to become ProLiteracy.
Here is a link to a great article, “Adult Education Helps Break the Cycle of Poverty,” published by ProLiteracy: click here.
The article points out that:
The value of adult literacy to our economy is estimated at more than $200 billion per year in additional wages and reduced costs for public support programs. Educating adults is a sound investment. Yet, public funding for adult education programs has declined over the past 15 years despite most adult education programs having long student waiting lists. Programs can only serve a fraction of the adults who need services.
Indeed, my student has been waiting nearly a year for a tutor, and some students have been waiting longer than that. So many more trained literacy tutors are needed!
I’m excited, and I hope I can help my student reach her literacy goals; I know I will sure try hard!
Now I need to get back to preparing lessons for my college teaching job–teaching College Reading. Are you surprised?
Thank you for reading.
Laura Lee 