Poems

Ron Rubin
Safe Schools Consultant and Coordinator of the Crisis Prevention & Management Project
Vermont Department of Education
E-mail: rrubin@doe.state.vt.us

Playing Shapes

I watch you take the colored shapes
one clenched in each tiny fist
as you try to fit them into their corresponding spots
that sit atop a bowl-like container
into which they drop
when you are lucky
but it's more often just too difficult
you're still too young
not that it bothers you
success brings you the pleasure of my excitement
my encouragement and applause
but in and of itself, success is not what motivates you
it is the playing

 

In Return

put away all the toys and plastic
give a three year old some old pots and pans to play with
and listen to the music
hear the glee
give a young child a seashell and some sand
a small pile of stones and a pond
show him where deer slept the night before
and where a rabbit skipped through the mud
and watch the excitement
see the enthusiasm
give a child soft grassy hills to climb
teach him to be gentle with the cat and your nose
sing songs to him
and share his curiosity
his kindness and vision
share his love

and in return
receive those shining eyes
all that energy and imagination
the streams of questions and consciousness
bursts of spontaneous silliness
laughter over nothing and everything
and in return
perhaps he will remember
the times we gave to each other
and that they were as well spent as I recall

 

Sweet Lullaby

the comforting din of peepers and tree frogs
rises and falls in wave after wave
country ocean song far from any shoreline
setting the still summer night in gentle motion
fireflies dance their light show
moving joyously through the field
as if every evening was cause for music
and celebration

and from the distant wood
coyotes raise their heads in a plaintive cry
howling to be rejoined with the moon and stars
as you are, sleeping peacefully
in your home of dreams

 

Coming Up Short

it won't surprise me when you question
and perhaps, ridicule my past
asking how I could have been so blind
so deaf
and so irresponsible
you will not understand nor forgive my mistakes
regardless of my apologies

it won't surprise me when you say
that given the same circumstances
you would have acted differently
made better choices
and been more wise
this is the clarion call of youth
upon which, I trust you will build
erecting your own history
and in time, learn that one day you too
may ask your children for a measure of kindness
to release you from the guilt of having done
only the best and most you could
which was far short of working miracles

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