Life: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Huh, a challenge...

I'm sure you're going to appreciate me throwing this in here, but I never understood this properly before (sorry, SealPoet, but I din't get your explanation)

TIP #1:
There is an easy way to remember the metre.
Recite out loud the first line of the old Christmas classic, 'Twas the night be-fore Christ-mas and all through the house. In this line you can hear the compelling beat: da da DUM. This unit of the beat is called a metrical foot but, unlike the Christmas poem, a limerick contains three metrical feet in lines one, two and five, and two metrical feet in lines three and four. Hence:

da da DUM da da DUM da da DUM
da da DUM da da DUM da da DUM
da da DUM da da DUM
da da DUM da da DUM
da da DUM da da DUM da da DUM

http://female-orgasms.com/limericks/

dejected!

My first day as a substitute teacher.

<incredulous>

I was nervous at the prospect of being in charge of the class--and everything that could have gone wrong did. The one lovely thing about being older--is there was a time I'd've been horrified. I read the text they were working on--the lesson plans and rolls appeared at the door literally 5 minutes before the class started slogging in--and I loved them immediately. Today confirmed my choice to start in Middle School.

I felt so at ease and so maternal toward them all. I zeroed in on some children who seemed sad--and this is really a large part of why I want to teach. I don't know what might have happened in their homes last night or this morning-- but I do know today, the lady who subbed for Mrs. Gillis smiled at them, told them what great work they were doing, looked them in the eye and had a positive moment with them.

I was able to break out my dismal Spanish (a few words) but I think it shows a bit of respect for people when you speak their language of preference.

I really liked the teachers--they were great. I guess we had a special bonding experience. At about 10:40, a very tense voice came over the intercom and said "The school is in lock down. Repeat: The school is in lock down." I immediately thought it was a drill, and as I was closing the door, I heard angry voices and felt confident that a disgruntled parent was yelling at a teacher... I heard something you should never hear in a Middle School--and it went through me. A blood curdling scream. My students convulsed out of their seats, screaming, crying, grabbing me like I was a life raft.

I wanted to check on the direction of the girl who screamed, but my twenty students were literally demanding my attention. I turned out the lights and the male teacher across the hall came to my door and said "get them down in the back of the room."

Another announcement: "Close all blinds, turn off lights and get away from the doors. This is a lock down..."

I'm still getting chills when I type that.

I convinced the children in the next few minutes that there was no way anyone could harm them... We'd been studying Great Britain and I started telling them stories of the Tower of London, King Richard III...

A man had been hiding in the stall of the girls' bathroom--and came out with a knife and attempted to abduct a student. She screamed--and about the time she did another student was walking in the bathroom and screamed as well.

Thank God she wasn't physically hurt.

It was quite a day. I had to send some distraught students to the office for counseling.

The teachers asked me to call them a day ahead the next time I was planning to sub... :wink:

The poor girl who was threatened with the knife...her father passed away last year. My heart just breaks for her. So many of the girls will never feel safe in a bathroom stall again.

Wow.

What a first day.

Good grief!!

Hopefully every day will seem like a cakewalk compared to that.

Wow!

Glad everyone was at least physically safe...

Yeah ...I mean, it can't get worse....

Thanks both of you.

Holy moly! I've been briefed on lockdowns and they sounded horrific then. I can hardly imagine what that must have been like. Where are you teaching?!?!

Subbing--today at Clarke Middle School in Ath.

That's where the lockdown was? Double holy moly!

Nodding. <shaking head>

Wow!

Sorry, Lash. I wish there was a better word. It seems to be the only one coming to me.

yikes!

http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/ap_newfullstory.asp?ID=88346

Lash--

You survived with dignity and a bit of glory. This is obviously an omen for your teaching career.

Hold your dominion.

Wow, Lash. I heard that story on the news last night -- I had no idea you were there. The poor girl must've been traumatized, but kudos to the teachers who chased the creep down! With any luck, he won't ever be going near another middle school.

No glory for me, Noddy, but thanks for the kind thought. One of the deepest impressions for me were the pleading little eyes during the scariest part of the ordeal--and the questions, "Is someone going to kill us? Is someone going to come in here with a gun and shoot us?

I heard myself saying, "I won't let anyone get to you," and absently wondering if we would hear gunshots.

It did connect me to those children. As awful as the day was-- It was a glorious affirmation of my career goal.

(Plus, I'm really loving the idea of teaching Social Studies..)

The male teacher across the hall was so full of adrenaline the rest of the day, I thought he'd combust.

Note from this woman: Incredible date tonight...and I light at the SLC to find this email:

Congratulations!
The reason you are receiving this email is because at least one of the works you submitted to Stillpoint Literary Magazine has been accepted for publication in our 2006-2007 issue. We received around 150 submissions and we chose 30 pieces from 20 different authors. We are currently working on the magazine and we will let you know whenever you can pick up your copy. We will also contact you regarding the date of our magazine release party, in which you will have the opportunity to read your works during the poetry reading. This year's magazine will also be featured at a conference for college literary magazines in Georgia, which means your work will be read by many other people besides those in the University of Georgia community.
Once again, congratulations and thank you for submitting to Stillpoint!


It's just a school magazine, but all in all---a night I can't describe. The afterglow continues buzzing.

At the ass end in life, these things are dreamy.

Wow, great news!

Thanks, soz. :wink:

...and you deserve it, Lash - congratulations!

Also on the incredible date