Pandemic Teaching

One of my students just called me and in his very broken English told me I upset him in class today because I wasn’t on screen the whole time. He was in tears and his father yelled at him. Why wasn’t I on screen the whole time?

Because I was walking around my classroom trying to check in on the twelve kids who showed up today. Because I was trying to get two kids who have done zero work because of their utter terror of technology finally logged into our textbook.

Because I was making a tiny bit of progress with two kids, and breaking another.

Because it’s 2020 and I don’t know how to teach anymore. 💔

But I wore this mask and put up the new background fireworks to celebrate a candidate who literally has the power to change or save their lives and their families’ lives, and I smiled.

So why am I crying now?

What Clouds?

even with cold temps

flowers can burst from seedlings

sewn by human hands

Red, Green. Golden.

with a little sun,

the Begonia brings Christmas

to non-believers

Kamala for the Win

here we are. winning.

by a margin way too slim.

at least we win her.

Blue Morning

invading our walk

this kitty thinks she’s a dog

(Trump’s America)

but we’ll win it back

as i splash blue on two screens

for my kids to watch

Dear Fellow White Voters

your majority

is as fleeting as winter

during climate change

Just Three Words

Vamos a ganar

with this American map

he knows nothing of

every moment counts

and he has read my soul here

with these three small words

The Blues. For Blue.

every election:

because they are so diverse

urbanites vote blue

all it really takes

is a short conversation

with someone different

Pillow Talk

my sweet, restful pup

doesn’t care who wins the vote

(only that he’s loved)

Cherish Them

these fleeting moments

shared with a stencil of love

between my daughters