Homework Blues

I cannot lift my backpack,
My homework weighs a ton.
I have to finish all of it,
Before I get to have some fun.

It will take at least three hours,
Or maybe even more.
My homework makes me fall asleep,
It really is a bore.

I wish it took five minutes,
Then I’d really have it made.
Three hours of homework is way too much,
I’m just in second grade!

©2009-Art Belliveau

Hoping for Snow

I wish that it would snow today,
At least three feet or more.
I want to see the back yard all white,
And feel the cold wind come through the open door.

I want to build a snowman,
And have a snowball fight.
I want to wear flannel pajamas,
And sleep under my blankets tonight.

I want to shiver with the cold,
And see the fog come out my mouth.
And I want a snowday out of school,
Too bad I live in the Deep South.

©2009-Art Belliveau

Teacher Math

30 students
-1 in the ALC
-2 in ISS
-5 absent
-8 sleeping
-2 doing homework (for another class, of course)
-4 daydreaming
-7 who just won't understand
-----------------------------------------
1 wasted class period

or maybe not
if that one kid left
has really learned something today

©2009-Art Belliveau

consequences of truth 12/02/09

scraped raw
by jagged-tooth
implacable truth

i would rather
have these
self-inflicted
wounds

than wrap myself
in the false safety
of well-intentioned lies

©2009-Art Belliveau

the dance 12/01/09 draft two

constantly we circle
as the music pounds

twisting and turning
falling and rising

sometimes closer
sometimes farther away

darting in and out
hips swaying

adagio to allegro
in constant motion

yearning to end the dance
and fall into each other

but the music
yes the music

drives us
relentlessly on

©2009-Art Belliveau

the dance 12/01/09

constantly we circle
sometimes closer
sometimes farther away
darting in and out
in constant motion
longing to end the dance
but the music
yes the music
it constantly
drives us on

©2009-Art Belliveau

yuletide 11/30/09

one by one they change
the darkness lifted
house by house
the yards transformed
to winter wonderlands
even in the South
where snow’s called rain
each house adding a light
against the gloominess
of the lengthening nights
shining together
as we shine
lit from within
by
anticipation

©2009-Art Belliveau

certainty 11/29/09

i am not certain
of much
okay
of anything
but
i do believe
in you

©2009-Art Belliveau

adrenaline rush

i know it’s bad
when the drone of
my own voice
threatens to put
even me asleep
and i watch the heads
slowly nod
jerk up
but eventually succumb
to gravity
then i use the words
that magically energize
everyone in the room
“take out a piece of paper
and something to write with--
we are going to take a pop quiz
on this”

©2009-Art Belliveau

panic 11/27/09

there i was
drowning again
adrift in the turbulent seas
of my own unchecked
emotions
and i called to her
to throw me a line
and as she did
i had a flash of fear
as i prayed there was not
an anchor attached

©2009-Art Belliveau