I let self-doubt hold me back from writing posts here for years and publishing in general. I have bits and pieces of poems, blog posts, random ramblings, historical tidbits, and more in paper/pencil notebooks, in the Notes app on my phone, here in drafts, in my Google Drive, and in digital files on different devices. I decided in 2025 to finish all of the 30+ “In Progress” books from the last 8 years in my Audible library and I accomplished that the first half of the year. Amazing what happens when you ghost your TikTok account and then delete it. Next goal for the second half is to combine, compile, and make sense of some of those “In Progress” written words.
First up, poetry. I loved using poetry to teach Social Studies back in my elementary teacher days and I also love writing poems. And I mean from my brain. I don’t mean using ChatGPT. I also have a post about how I used poetry with 5th graders forthcoming. Started in 2019 so it’s about time to finish it.
Let’s fast forward back to 2025. April is National Poetry Month. In an effort to prove to myself I could be consistent with writing (and not just when I felt in a creative mood), I decided to post and/or write an original poem everyday during National Poetry Month this year. The following are all original works. I took out the cutesy images I used and am sticking with just primarily the words. I am proud of myself for sticking with it the entire month and even posting a bonus May poem. Huge fan of haikus (5/7/5 syllable pattern) and acrostic poems (words spelled out vertically as first letter of each line) as you will see. Each day corresponds to the date in April (Day 1 was April 1st, etc.).
Day 1: History Haiku
learn about the past
connect to the present
build a human bridge
Day 2: History Acrostic
Hear the stories
Intertwined with events
Sing the praises of heroes
Teach the triumphs
Offer respect for the fallen
Rediscover lost memories of
Yesterday’s forgotten lessons
Day 3: Passing of Val Kilmer inspires Val Kilmer Acrostic
Vested interest in his craft
Always delivers in a performance
Legendary characters portrayed
Keeps audiences captivated
Iconic roles spanning decades
Lit our fires as Jim
Maverick’s rival turned comrade
Earp’s trusty backup
Revered by all
Day 4: Inspired by anniversary of Pony Express debut April 3rd
pony express
call of the wild meets the way of the west
racing, outpacing, hoof print tracing while proving up to the test
riders on a mission full of ambition, trusty steed at the ready to deliver the best
faced with dangers all for strangers awaiting words from home
Day 5: Anniversary of the Passing of Kurt Cobain/Layne Staley (grunge)
Giving a voice to the 90s
Redefining the alternative genre
Unique sound
Never enough flannel
Give me a time machine to go back
Era extends on
Day 6: Anniversary of United States Entering WWI
Wanted to be isolated
Out of conflict
Remember the Lusitania
Last straw
Determined to avenge
Weapons and militarism
Alliances
Roar of tanks
1 main event followed my multiple small causes
Day 7: USS Midway Haiku
floating memories
of valor, service, and pride
national treasure
Day 8: The Great Gatsby spoiler in anticipation of the centennial later that week
a villain
a scoundrel
a dreamer
and a brute
west egg
green light
the beholder of the loot
grand parties
grander gestures
the ladies and gents
secrets kept build the suspense
Day 9: During my Oak Ridge trip
Secret city
Science at its core
Elza Entrance
Clinton Engineer Works
Recreational activities
Ed Wescott
Turnpike Gatehouse
Chapel on the Hill
Industrious
The Guest House
Y-12
Day 10: End of Civil War, written at hotel on notepad with logo so posted next day
Day 11: A Poem from the Archives (one I already had written and published here)
Day 12: Another Poem from the Archives (I was tired from traveling earlier in the week)
Day 13: Lazy Sunday (this seems like some form of spoken word of my day and what I saw on tv/social media)
lounging around after
airport pickup
zac effron in the studio
yes to a hallmark movie
scrolling social media mindlessly
unbrushed hair
naps upon naps
daydreaming about oak ridge
absent motivation
yes to jon hamm on snl
Day 14: Anniversary of Lincoln Assassination
leader among men
renewed hope for unity
a tragic ending
Day 15: April 15th Events (Titanic, Jackie Robinson)
full steam ahead
soon brings a sense of dread
the situation becomes dire
survival down to the wire
standing on the field
for nothing will he yield
not taunts, not threats
heroism throughout the years
Day 16: National Haiku Poetry Day Eve
(I posted this on my office door for National Haiku Day 2024)
Today is the day
To get out of your own way
This is your fresh start
Day 17: National Haiku Poetry Day (about my Office Door History posts)
office door tidbits
some for you and some for me
build community
Day 18: Albert Einstein’s birthday
E=MC (squared)
Imagination/creativity advocate
Nobel Prize Winner
Scientist/Physicist
The letter to FDR
Encouraged atomic research
Isaac Newton fact checker
Naturally a pacifist
Day 19: Anniversary of the American Revolution beginning
Rebels against Redcoats
Ensuing “shot heard round world”
Victory for Patriots
Opposed to too much control
Led by Minute Men/militias
United against a tyrant
Thomas Gage’s plan fails
Independence quest
On to Fort Ticonderoga
New England rises to the call
Day 20: Easter/Chapel on the Hill in Oak Ridge
Community building
Historic register
All are welcome
Place for thousands of weddings
Established during the 1940s
Leave with a sense of peace
Day 21: When I was cleaning up this site I found this “Frosty the Snowman” parody for teaching The Scientific Method. I personally think song lyrics fall into the poetry category and this parody is pretty clever. Gotta make teaching Science fun somehow.
Day 22: Earth Day (Beauty of the mountains of Asheville begets complicated post Helene feelings of disillusionment)
the mountains came calling and so I went
gazing upon scenic vistas many hours I have spent
years of memories, highest of highs and lowest of lows
career pivots, new beginnings, occasional lines of prose
pandemic era, political upheaval years, smiles and laughs, but no shortage of tears
lessons learned, wisdom gained, homesickness, nostalgia, lingering existential crisis remains
wanderlust leaves a mental wandering of moments debating staying around but more lost am I than found in this hurricane impacted town
the mountains came calling and so I’m here, but my place among them no longer seems clear
Day 23: Shakespeare birthday nod in caption posted with this one
Y’all write your love sonnets to people (Shakespeare nod), I’ll write them about Social Studies. For National Poetry Month Day 23 📝✅: I’m sharing one from the archives for a few reasons…1) It’s one of the last ones from the archives 2) I miss teaching Social Studies 3) There is a picture of my mom and baby me and tomorrow is my mom’s birthday❤️ and finally 4) I spent about 2 hours updating old blog posts after work/gym because I don’t how to relax I guess and therefore didn’t write a new poem.
Day 24: Library of Congress birthday
primary sources
archive of our past voices
a vital resource
Day 25: Arbor Day (I was that day’s years old when I learned it was not in the fall)
A day to plant new trees
Roots and leaves
Beginnings in Nebraska
Observed last Friday in April
Respected holiday globally
Downloadable activities
A habitat for animals
Young and old can participate
Check out http://arborday.org to learn more and for educational resources!
Day 26: Carol Burnett’s birthday
tomorrow the sun
we love you miss hannigan
it’s a hard knock life
Day 27: Ulysses S. Grant’s birthday
General in chief of Union forces
Reconstruction era president
Appomattox attendee
Not perfect
Tomb in New York City
Day 28: Timeline Acrostic (from a blog post about timelines)
https://www.thesocialstudieswhisperer.com/2017/01/teaching-timelines-its-about-time/
Title
Intelligent increments
Make it chronological
Exact dates
Labeled and colorful
Illustrations
Neat and organized
Exciting events only
Day 29: Willie Nelson’s birthday
Waylon, Willie, Johnny, and Kris
Instantly recognizable voice
Legendary performer
Lukas Nelson’s dad
Integral part of Farm-Aid
Endless hits
Day 30: Close of National Poetry Month
here’s to the creatives
to an island of misfits they feel native
lying in wait impatiently for a muse
that will often evade or even refuse
hoping to feel inspired
so mentally tired
yearning to be “in the zone”
as a stray dog waits on a bone
attempts to write can be futile
trying to focus can get out of hand
but who knew such a thing existed
as creativity on command
Bonus May 1: In response to the “It’s Gonna Be MAY Meme” (*spoiler* For some reason it irrationally annoys me)
return of the meme
frustrating to me it may seem
it brings others enjoyment
forget my “annoyment”
you shouldn’t yuck people’s yum
even if you think things are dumb
“it’s gonna be may”
has come my way
it’s just once a year
for that i give a cheer
