[176] Alone, inspired by Dylan

alone in my house / 

doing nothing; playing games / 

be alone no more

[175] Jayden's kindness poem

I'm holding the door / 

Everyone is being kind / 

I feel so happy

[174] Haiku by Jayden

waking up at six / 

makes me so tired but I / 

can't go back to sleep 

[173] Inspired by Jayden

my angry red face /

nobody plays with my toys /

hate making new friendsi

[172] Haiku by Naila

kind people are nice /

people open door for me /

i like kindness kid

[171] Preparation

moving boxes 'round /
packing clothes in small spaces /
can't find anything

[170] Surprise!

Finding out your debt /

has been temporarily / 

suspended is joy

[169] Zoo time

SO many penguins / 

it's time for lunch, little guys / 

Get out, Pelican!

[168] Relaxing

Learned a new card game / 

and refined my acting skills / 

A good day indeed 

[167] Friendly advice

Going on a trip / 

Trying to be more social / 

Please, just don't be weird!

[166] Wake up!

sunshine and rainbows /

hidden away in my dreams / 

and then I wake up

[165] Cliche

Being reflective / 

I have got to do better / 

new year for new me

[164] Social Faux Pas

When you are around / 

I become an obsessed dweeb / 

wish you knew my heart 

[163] Time

I've got five weeks off / 

Need to make the most of it /

Time for a new me

[162] Last Day

Thought I'd feel diff'rent* / 

But I actually don't / 

Robbed of emotion

[161] Freedom

I'm finally free / 

free to do things my own way /

free from the abuse

[160] Helping Kids

Won't reach all of them /

Maybe I'll increase each year / 

But I'm good for now

[159] Brunch

Brunchin' with old friends / 

we talked only of our jobs / 

that makes us adults

[158] Spoiler

You ruined the show! / 

Def* didn't see that coming... /

we won't talk again!!

[157] Always so tired

so much work to do /

no energy left in me /

maybe a quick nap?

[156] Can sleep after tomorrow

longest week ever / 

coming off a three-day week

want to sleep for days

[155] Not a professional artist

painted a kid's face / 

made him look so horrible / 

made him wash his face 

[154] Lucky

exciting moment / 

when you get the right answer / 

and it was a guess!

[153] Annoyed

In a funk today / 

wanted to scream: "BE YOURSELF!" / 

wanted to ignore

[152] Hiatus

Learned a lot today / 

Mostly it just scared me so / 

need to take a break...

[151] Embittered

Been reminiscing / 

feeling more angry than hurt / 

just need a clean break

[150] I'm an Adult!

add another notch /

onto my adulthood belt /

apartment achieved

[149] Need to let go

I tried to reach out

starting to get the feeling / 

you just want me gone

[148] peer pressure

Off from work early / 

I wasn't too productive / 

then she made me drink

[147] keep awake

Suddenly tired / 

hit with wave of exhaustion / 

no, sandman, not yet!

[146] Independence

Got one step closer / 

walked around "my" place today / 

it shall soon be mine

[145] Renewed Confidence

I am back baby / 

more determined than ever / 

to get my life back

[144] Filling out quota

Spending time with you / 

doesn't happen quite enough / 

stay longer next time

[143] Bonne Chance, Kia!

Now that you're leaving / 

making fun of ratchet gyms / 

will not be the same

[142] Friendly Advice

Sit there and take it / 

Wait until the power's yours / 

Then use it for good

[141] Trade off

I passed my exam! / 

got one thing going for me / 

...coughing up a lung

[140] Why even send the email?

my results are in! / 

"your score will be sent to you" / 

TO-fucking-MORROW! 

[139] "You're Selfish"

want to let you go / 

don't know what's holding me back / 

must be selfishness

[138] Signs of Aging

thirty minute nap / 

became a two-hour nap / 

'cuz I'm old ...and sick

[137] 4 more to go!

Counting down the weeks / 

'til I have some sanity / 

end of the school year

[136] Quite painful

Chest is on fire / 

tiny swords stabbing my throat / 

How am I STILL sick?

[135] Multiple Intelligence Theory

Intelligences / 

Top three: me, music, language* / 

not so good with math

*For your reference: http://www.literacynet.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html

[134] Reflection

Fourteen school days left / 

thinking about all the gains / 

I have made this year

[133] Dignity

It hit me at once / 

Her time is coming up soon /

She's already gone

[132] Anxiety-stricken

In the biggest funk / 

Feeling anxious and nervous / 

crying all the time

[131] I need fun!

awful Sunday news:

finding out that my workload / 

just increased tenfold

[130] What to Take???

Fearing medicine / 

mix of paranoia and / 

biased rhetoric

[129] Allergies or Fever?

My runny nose sniffs /

my head throbs and throat itches 

as my left eye drips 

[128] A stressed Natasha is not a happy Natasha

classes start Monday / 

not looking forward to it / 

stress level increase

[127] Who told you this?!

That awkward moment / 

when a child tells you her pills / 

are just like candy

[126] No Motivation

That lazy moment / 

when you put in no effort / 

writing a haiku

[125] Fearing the Unknown

Pit of my stomach / 

Wrestling with knots, butterflies / 

unsure what's to come

[124] Note to Self: Keep a Positive Attitude

Feeling exhausted / 

and my week's just starting off / 

dig deep and push through

[123] Epic Fail Challenge

BIG inflatables / 

commuter week on steroids / 

we're all just big kids

[122] #LEGOS!

Playing with legos / 

The Batman - Penguin battle / 

special bonding time

[121] Should I Blame Her or U?

Need to calm my nerves / 

You are still breaking my heart / 

after all this time

[120] Delicious and Unhealthy

Said: "no mayonnaise" / 

He still put the mayonnaise / 

Fucking up my flow

[119] So much happening

Tryna* get stuff done / 

Wishing that time would slow down / 

Feeling overwhelmed

[118] It won't be the same

Our bridge has been burned / 

A new one can take its place / 

but never restored 

[117] Insecure to Diva in 1-2-3

that "just washed hair" scent /

transforms my self-doubt into /

effervescent sass

[116] Making Amends

Going back and forth / 

never fully satisfied / 

living in limbo

[115] Making it Worse

Active avoidance / 

isn't working out for me / 

She's infiltrated!

[114] Video Chats

When people FaceTime / 

I instantly think of U / 

Miss seeing your face 

[113] Looking Crazy

Podcast in my ears / 

Laughing uncontrollably / 

...on a public bus

[112] That awkward moment...

...when you have more fun / 

at a penguin exhibit / 

than all your students

[111] Game of Thrones

Winter is coming / 

What is dead may never die / 

Lannisters pay debts

[110] My kids will be my solace

Back to work I go / 

Didn't fully clear my mind / 

Back to the chaos

[109] Peaceful Unwind

Stimulate the brain / 

play an exciting chess game / 

NOT a wizard's chess!

[108] "I want a man not a boy who thinks he can"

I'm done playing games / 

Was cute in the beginning / 

But you're boring now

[107] "Don't be Alex Cross with me"

Finally saw it / 

Can't discuss it with others / 

cuz it's not the same

[106] Antisocial problems

Happens so often / 

Can't take it personally / 

Still hurts all the same

[105] Apartment Hunting

Found new apartment / 

Cherry wood kitchen, my fave / 

no closet space though

[104] "Did you see that ending?!"

Wish we were still friends / 

So we can talk about this / 

I miss our spoilers

[103] What Vacation?

Productivity / 

seems to be lacking on breaks / 

need to work harder

[102] Frustration

Disappointed tons / 

sooner or later you learn / 

no one has your back

[101] One More Day...

Last day until break / 

In need of relaxation / 
Hope the day flies by

[100] Read Me to Sleep

Reading to children /

requires such energy / 

Feeling so sleepy...

[99] By Cody, Age 8.

I decided to feature a haiku one of my student's wrote about New York City. Enjoy!

New York is a slob / 

nasty junk on the sidewalk / 

New York is a slob

[98] Contemptuous Rain

Rain rain go away! / 

Stop ruining all the fun! / 

April, please be done!

[97] Toxic

As much as I crave / 

all your attention and care / 

I know it's poison

[96] You Could But You Don't

You could do so much / 

To make me feel accepted / 

This was a mistake

[95] Overly Seasoned

My mouth is ablaze / 

Chicken, you have betrayed me

Curse you, damn pepper!

[94] Creepy Crawlies

Paranoia is / 

Itching when you see a bug / 

It's all in your head

[93] Oh No She Bettah Don't!

Men dressed as women / 

sometimes they're really pretty / 

sometimes not so much

[92] April Fools

Fooled by fake spider / 

Almost had a heart attack / 

Gonna throw up now

[91] Level of (IN)Security

Complimenting me /

can work for or against you / 

Based on confidence

[90] Inspiration

Nude tree stands alone / 

melted snow puddles nearby / 

Spring is almost here

[89] I'm Still Too Weak

I've been really strong / 

But brought to tears in seconds / 

Because of her laugh

[88] Kindness? Aint Nobody Got Time Fo' 'Dat!

Smiling at people / 

in New York is a faux pas / 

We are in a rush!

[87] Dream Invader

Your beautiful face / 

Hidden from my consciousness / 

Appears late at night

[86] Am I Good Enough?

Gonna be alone / 

but feeling unsuccessful / 

worried for next year

[85] Stress Stinks

The condescension / 

is at an all time how now / 

Pressure's palpable 

[84] Leisure Time

The pleasure that comes / 

with reading an old fav'rit* / 

Oh how I've missed this

[83] Perfectly Punctual

Catch a bus or train / 

or make that morning meeting / 

Gotta be on time

[82] Unsocial Butterfly

I'm always so prompt / 

Definitely a burden / 

Don't make eye contact!

[81] Facebook "Friend" Woes

you're always distant / 

save for some random comments / 

I should delete you

[80] Strangers to Soul Sisters

There are few people / 

I feel a connection to / 

but it's the strongest

[79] Humble Pie

When I start to feel / 

the slightest bit of success / 

I'm knocked two steps down

[78] Teaching Joys

Writing poetry / 

with second graders is fun / 

They just love to rhyme

[77] All About Penguins

This poem was crafted by my second grade students collectively. 
I provided the topic they provided the words. Love them <3 Enjoy! :)

Penguins are the best / 

Penguins can swim very well / 

They are my best friends

[76] Getting Better

Was all by myself / 

It went phenomenally / 

I have the best kids

[75] Downward Spiral

Having crazy thoughts /

And I can't be productive /

Sleep problems away?

[74] Medieval Times

Feasted with Knights, Kings / 

Shared meat, mead, and watched jousting / 

A great Saturday

[73] Thoughts on the Upcoming Birds Unit

Learning about birds / 

They think of pigeons and crows / 

I dream of penguins!

[72] Five Weeks

Almost cried today / 

thinking about U again / 

Missing U a lot

[71] Beware

Tension is rising / 

We hear all of the whispers / 

I feel uncomfy*

[70] Boys, Toys, and Sweet Little Joys

Overindulgence / 

is getting me in trouble / 

I should pull it back

[69] Daylight Savings: The Effects

Hard to fall asleep / 

Harder to wake up on time / 

damn circadian

[68] Future: A Tad Less Uncertain

I know I'll be back /

In many more ways than one / 

But... there's still some doubt

[67] Ruined

It's been a month now / 

I haven't been the same since / 

I feel disgusting

[66] Happy Birthday, Scumbag!

I think about you / 

It sickens me to my core / 

Get out of my head!

[65] Farewell and Good Luck

Heard that you're leaving / 

I wish we could have helped you / 

Maybe others can

[64] Don't Talk about it... BE about it!

Too many complaints / 

'bout "failing education" / 

but they reject work

[63] Snack

They're way too salty / 

Deceitfully untasty / 

I don't like pretzels

[62] Stop Hatin'

Teaching in charters /

is under criticism / 

there are pros and cons

[61] My Future

Weighing my options / 

Teaching something I don't like / 

or stay, but unsure

[60] Home Alone

Dancing 'round the room / 

Whipping my hair back and forth / 

Willow can't touch this

[59] Email

I was caught off guard / 

Didn't know how to respond / 

U opened old wounds

[58] Ethnic Girl Problems

Wild and crazy hair / 

so much mousse, product, and gel / 

Needs better treatment

[57] Allergic to Pineapples?!? Say It Aint So!

Mmm... succulent fruit / 

Juicy flavors on my tongue / 

But what's this? ...IT BURNS!!!

[56] Lazy

Don't know what to write /

This is gonna be awful /

refrigerator

[55] Well... at least that's the plan

Fighting the good fight / 

gets me so emotional /

achievement gap: closed!

[54] Insomnia

I've gotta wake up / 

so damn early tomorrow / 

...sandman must be lost

[53] Let's See How Long This Will Last

Trying out new things / 

Always exciting at first / 

Then grows bothersome

[52] Don't Catch Feelings

The longer we talk / 

the deeper my feelings get / 

but I WON'T let them

[51] Envious of the Creative

Creativity / 

is a remarkable gift / 

for the worthy few

[50] Waaaah! Broke Young Adult

Rent's so expensive / 

that I must find a roommate / 

...but I don't wanna!! 

[49] Band Wagon

 My new obsession / 

is this awesome TV show / 

...that's really quite old

[48] Can't Take Compliments

Sometimes I'm flirty / 

Mostly I'm just being nice / 

Stop being awkward

[47] Sheltered

I'm way too sheltered / 

For the vastness of this place / 

I'm suffocating

[46] Still Not Over U

Trying to be strong / 

Facing new struggles daily / 

But I've stopped crying! 

[45] Baby Hands

Baby hands are cute / 

but only if you're little / 

Mario is old

[44] Fear of THUNDER

"BOOM!" said the thunder / 

The young teacher became scared / 

She cowered in fear

[43] Valentine for Joe

I could talk to you / 

all about the rain and snow / 

It's our special thing 

[42] Lack of Determination

I was weak today / 

And it is only Tuesday / 

Need to do better

[41] Cry because it's gone or smile because it happened?

Can't erase three years / 

And yet I'm expected to / 

I won't regret us

[40] Didn't Want U to Leave

Went boxing today / 

They said "get your anger out" / 

I punched. Then I cried. 

[39] "Just Friends" Was a Mistake

Guess this is goodbye / 

I never meant to hurt you / 

I'll always love you

[38] Falling (back) In Love with Books

An amazing book / 

Lets you live a diff'rent life / 

It's what I need now

[37] Powerful Literature or Sensitive Adult?

This book has made me / 

overly emotional / 

...It's taught in fifth grade

[36] When Celebrities Suck IRL

I loved the spice girls / 

I met one when I was twelve / 

She was such a BITCH!

[35] Quiet time now!

Being serious / 

with 30* seven-year-olds / 

is exhausting work

[34] Inhale... Exhale...

Superfluous stress / 

causes high anxiety / 

I'm FREAKING OUT here!!

[33] Progress

Seeing numbers drop / 

is a huge inspiration. / 

Gotta keep pushin'!

[32] Adulthood woes

I miss the old days / 
when I didn't worry much / 
adulthood has come

[31] What to do? What to do?

To be accepted / 

I have to change who I am. / 

Tough life decisions...

[30] Ode to the Man on the Bus

Peeped* your selfishness / 

Repulsed by your apathy / 

Move your fucking body!

[29] Loneliness... part deux

Hard to be normal / 

And I suffer ev'ryday / 

I am so alone

[28] Can't shake this feeling...

8:30, in bed! / 

It's a Christmas winter miracle! / 

Forgetting something?

[27] Still Love 'Em

Got vomited on / 

Little kids are germy freaks / 

That's that teacher life

[26] Loneliness is Painful

I def need to learn / 

to enjoy being alone / 

Silent suffering

[25] Don't Deserve Another Chance

Strangest thing happened / 

Considered being your friend/ 

...Then I remembered

[24] Appreciating Detail

Lover of language / 

Paying close attention to / 

pronunciation

[23] First World Teacher Problems

Things that bother me:

Allergies on picture day. / 

Lookin' like a mess.

[22] Sleep Deprivation

That awful moment / 

when you nap for four hours / 

and wake up tired

[21] Freezing and Frostbite and Snow... Oh My!

This weather's got me / 

shivering like a junkie / 

going through withdrawal*

[20] Procrastination

So much stuff to do / 

With quite some time to finish / 

...And nothing got done 

[19] On Being Liked

Build relationships / 

Find out what matters to them / 

Then share interests

[18] Losing My Mojo

Creativity / 

Wish that I had some to spare / 

When will it kick in?

[17] Return to Fordham

I saw some old friends / 

Talked politics; ate sushi / 

I have missed these days

[16] Visiting Middle School

Correcting grammar / 

has not brought me as much joy / 

as it did today

[15] Dichotomous Effect

The sound of my voice / 

can either weaken men's knees /

..or shatter their ears

[14] So much going on... So little time

 I can't think tonight / 

Yet my brain's on overload / 

Just want sleep to come

[13] Recess

Chased by little kids / 

Their tiny legs can't keep up / 

I win ev'ry time

[12] Week Two

Kickboxing was great / 

I feel I'm getting stronger / 

Just push through the pain!

[11] Note to self: Less is more

Have to be careful / 

when giving information / 

to the wrong people 

[10] A Social No-No

Pretending to be / 

who I'm not to please people /

I don't care about 

[9] What Goes Around, Comes Around

Got what you deserved / 

Defamed my integrity / 

Now you're the disgrace

[8] How Long Will I Wait?

I'm still looking for / 

Someone who'll appreciate / 

The person I am 

[7] Grading Second Grade Papers

They're so creative / 

But they can't spell worth a damn / 

I'm so conflicted 

[6] Return from Vacation... the after-effects

I've reached a new low / 

home by seven, exhausted / 

And in bed by nine

[5] First Kickboxing Class

Kicked my ass today / 

"It's supposed to feel like that" / 

I... can't... feel... my legs

[4] There's always tomorrow

Starting my journey / 

Toward a healthier life / 

...I'll start tomorrow

[3] Unrequited

Mind tells me to chill / 

Heart tells me to go for it /

You say "I don't care"

[2] Cyclical Heartbreak

I thought I was done / 

But you broke my heart again / 

I don't deserve this

[1] Fixation

The desperation / 

Makes my heart vulnerable / 

Too weak to defend