Hey Teach Me

So this is not your typical poem, this is an example of what I call a poem song. It is kind of like a song, I guess you could say they are lyrics, but the words were never written for music, or I don't even think it would be possible to accompany the words with music. So its a poem that follows the structure of a song with verses and a chorus. This one I wrote back on September 9, 1996. I remember the date, because I had spent earlier time that day visiting with a little old lady in a run down 50 year old wood apartment building in Tallinn Estonia. We sat in front of a large window that see would sit in front of, and watch the world go by. She just talked and talked like it was something she very rarely got to do. I came home that night sat down and pretty much wrote this poem because of that experience.

Hey Teach Me

Hey granny sitting in the rocking chair,
What did you see out the window today?
Did you see the old man yell at the world,
And watch the children play?
Did the flowers grow anymore?
Did the young man really go to fast?
Hey granny, in the rocking chair,
What did you see out the window today?

Chorus:
What have you seen through the days of your life?
What experiences do you have?
Hey tell me the wisdom that you have learned,
Hey teach me the things you can.
You know things that I don't know,
Please help me where you can.

Hey old man, sitting at the end of the street.
Where did you sleep last night?
What did you have for your meal,
And how warm are your hands?
Do you migrate like the birds in the fall,
And follow the warmth of the sun?
Hey old man at the end of the street,
What special things, do you hold in your hands?

Hey old lady, laying in the bed dying,
Were you young once before?
What was your world like, a long time ago,
And were you beautiful?
What are things that I should learn before I die?
Was your life full of happiness and are you ready to die?
Hey old lady, laying there slowly slipping away,
Were you young once, a long time ago?

Hey young school boy, playing in the street.
Do you know what your future holds?
What kind of world will you live in,
And what will be your goals?
Will you be a leader of a Nation,
Or a wondering old man?
Hey young school boy, playing in the street,
Do you know what your future holds?

Chorus:
What have you seen through the days of your life?
What experiences do you have?
Hey tell me the wisdom that you have learned,
Hey teach me the things you can.
You know things that I don't know.
Please teach me the things you can.

The Song of Memories

Here is the first poem that I am posting to my blog. This was a poem that I wrote back in October of 1997. I consider this poem to be one of my personal favorites and I think one of my best, see what you think of it.

The Song of Memories
I hear so many voices in my mind.
All of them from my past.
Each voice has its own name,
Its own face, own experience,
and even its own world.
Some of these voices are happy,
While others are sad for loved ones far away.
Every voice, every emotion, I know and I feel.
Some are lost against my desires.
While others wait to be heard again.
But what I like best, is when they're all one.
Flowing together like a chorus of angels.
Singing all together one eternal song,
The song of memories.

One Year Later!

Well another year has come and gone. Now don't think that I haven't thought about getting in and adding to my blog, but I found myself having a hard time getting into it, with my busy schedule, family and then mainly my laziness. But I still want to give this a try. So again, I am going to use this space to share my poetry, my writings and my experiences as a teacher. So enjoy and I you will find a few of my older poems, these are some of my most favorites, and since I have just completed another school year I am going to be working on a poem that shares the story that was this year of school.