Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Forgetting to Breathe

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I began this piece in Creative Writing. The first time in a long time I have written with my students. I thought it was going to be a normal Tuesday slice. I began to write--I was going to write about how I need to refocus on my OLW, Connect. But my words had a mind of their own, and this is what came out.  
Chaotic. Hectic. Crazy.
No time for anything
But
Work.
Reading drafts
Reading finals
Grading papers
Grading speeches
Conferences
Rehearsing
Rehearsing
Rehearsing

Forgetting to breathe.

Forgetting to take time to 
Connect.
Forgetting to take time to
Enjoy the little things.
Forgetting to take time to
Tell my story.

No reading
No writing
No playing

Forgetting to breathe.

But
Today 
In the middle of a 
A mile long To-Do List

I took a breath.

It smelled of ink and paper,
and
New books,
and 
the promise of an end in sight.

My eyes focused on
Little Things.
Whispers of collaboration
Giggles
Smiles of pleasure over something
Well-written

 I took another breath.

And began to tell my story.




  

14 comments:

  1. Love this! It all starts with a little breath and look what happens. This poem captures the current stress of your life but yet there is hope in the future for room to breathe and connect. Hang on,you will survive!

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  2. I can hear the marathon of life in your voice. Breathing and writing definitely helps go the distance.

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  3. You do a perfect job of describing your hectic life so that we can feel it. And I love your breath.

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  4. Wow...just wow. I'm glad you let the words lead. I love the ending...the way story is the life preserver, the way story is still there, even in the crazy-busy heart of life. Thanks for slowing down (just a little) to share with us.
    Ruth

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  5. Your rushing life showed so much in the words, sliding fast down the page, until you took that breath. I love that "it smelled of ink and paper and new books and a promise of an end in sight" Lovely, Deb-more breaths Please!

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  6. Lovely poem! The beginning feels just like I have been feeling lately, and then the end is so refreshing! Thanks for sharing!

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  7. I'm glad that you all are feeling the rush of the beginning and the "breath" at the end....I was trying for that, but sometimes you just never know if what you feel makes it to the page

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  8. I hope you have time to take some deep breaths soon. You're one busy lady!

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  9. Taking my time breathing today, Stacey. I sometimes just have to let the piles go---

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  10. Linda always captures my response! It is uncanny!

    Is it silly that this made me tear up a bit? This line especially got me:

    "Forgetting to take time to
    Tell my story."

    I think you hit close to home. As soon as you got to the line Linda referenced, I sighed a breath of relief with you. I felt the rush of fulfillment in that breath of ink and paper. Your words speak to me. I will breathe.

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  11. I could relate 100% to this. This poem has such a naturalness to it, like talking. My favourite part . . . "I took a breath. It smelled like ink and paper." Writing IS time to breathe.

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  12. Deb, this is just awesome! Don't you love when you think you know what you are going to write about, but something totally unexpected pours onto the paper?!?! We all need the constant reminder to take a breath! Thanks for sharing this breath of fresh air!

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  13. Love this Deb! Love the rhythm and how you took me from rush rush to breathe in and breathe out. :)

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