Wednesday, May 06, 2015

with a mind like an elephant – v2

Remembering everything
with a photographic memory
remembering every word, every action;
But unable to release
even one word, one moment,
every time they wanted to scream,
“No!,” to their aggressors
for every slight, each injustice.

Able to name those who ridiculed them,
who tormented them,
those who pushed their buttons
on the bus, in the schoolyard;
With a mind like an elephant
able to repeat, verbatim,
like a tape loop, repeating,
every conversation, each injustice.

A burden remaining on them
stumbling blocks, stones,
in their way, stopping,
hindering progress;
Unable to focus,
to live in the present, carrying
chains of each memory, their past
yes, each word, each injustice.

====
edited May 6, 2015
with a mind like an elephant – v2

May 6, 2015
with a mind like an elephant
hearing the stories of many students,
and knowing my own,
when we cannot let go of our memories,
things of the past
&
May 2, 2015
Blowing up the plan
edited April 25, 2015
like milking silk – v3
edited April 18, 2015
like milking silk – v2
April 17, 2015
like milking silk
the enigma of some of the students,
trying to tease out what is going on with them
on a particular day.
&
edited October 27, 2014
the liquid holding a secret – v4
edited October 10, 2014
the liquid holding a secret – v3
(editing original again)
edited August 30, 2014
the liquid holding a secret – v2
edited August 30, 2014
the liquid holding a secret
edited August 29, 2014
hidden within the glass – v2
August 29, 2014
hidden within the glass
in response to question
about whether the horse in the liquid glass
was first in the mind of the artist or within the glass itself
====
edited August 28, 2014
formed within the stone – v7
(editing version 2)
Edited October 14, 2013
formed within the stone – v6
(editing original again)
edited October 9, 2013
formed within the stone – v5
edited October 9, 2013
formed within the stone – v4
edited October 9, 2013
formed within the stone – v3
edited October 9, 2013
formed within the stone – v2
new poem, October 9, 2013
formed within the stone
Edited September 29, 2013
an onion peeling – v3
(editing original again)
Edited September 24, 2013
an onion peeling – v2
September 21, 2013
an onion peeling
September 21, 2013
In the quiet moments
teaching at Katahdin Middle/ High School

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 37,440+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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