Milobo’s Musings

Another poem, this one inspired by Bud Hunt’s National Poetry Month Challenge #17.

Change

I’ve heard the flutter of butterfly wings
or the ripple
of a water drop
are enough to change the world.

I’ve heard the words
hope
believe
try
do
flutter and ripple too.

Change comes unbidden,
cloaked in the common.

Created in the chasm between
what is
and
what will be.

Here’s my second post in honor of National Poetry Month.  Bud Hunt’s got a good thing going on his blog with picture prompts to encourage lots of poetry writing from fellow bloggers. If you haven’t taken a look, stop in and read some of the posts and replies there. (You might even think about leaving your own reply to a prompt that speaks to you.)

Me? I’m a math teacher at heart.  However, I’ve never used that as an excuse to keep me from trying to put my thoughts down in writing.  When I worked full-time as a math and science teacher, my students knew that writing and talking about their understanding was as important to me as showing the correct steps in an equation. I think the best way to know what you know is to write about it.

So, back during my classroom teaching years, I’d often write stories and poems to explain math and science thoughts in a way my students could understand them and have them do the same. I’ve lost most of my writings over the years, but this one somehow has made it through moves and spring cleaning jaunts unscathed. It’s one I wrote to have students think about the concept of infinity and set size.  If you’re curious about the math behind defining infinite sets, here’s a great explanation.

Enjoy.

A Tribute to Cantor (or The Homeless Martians)

Cantor believed (or so it is said)
There are infinite martians on the planet of red.

The martians on this day were having a ball
At their yearly convention in Aleph-Naught Hall.

There were infinite rooms in which they could rest.
Numbered 1, 2, and so on for each martian guest.

But while they were meeting, events took a turning,
A careless cigar left half the rooms burning!

Though the odd numbered rooms had seen better days,
The rooms numbered even were all left unscathed.

The concierge panicked, for he still was new,
But the manager knew just what he should do.

“Let all of those martians look at their room key,
And double the number they happen to see.”

“Then let them all move in the room with this number,
And the martians will each have a new place to slumber.”

The rooms, there were many, and though it seems strange,
Though half of them burned, the amount is unchanged.

The concierge scoffed, so counting he went
And hide nor hair have they seen of him since.

Picture from Kevin Trotman, Flickr Creative Commons

In honor of National Poetry month, I have two haiku poems to share.  I wrote these for a poetry contest at CHS and thought they’d be a perfect complement to the month’s celebration.

If you’re not familiar with National Poetry month, stop in at the Poets.org website and read their description.

And while you’re at it, think about sharing a piece of poetry on your blog this month; either your own writing, that of your students, or even the work of a favorite poet. Our Creative Writing Class is publishing their best poems this month on our school podcast channel and their teacher is creating an exhibit on ALI to share the lessons and activities with other teachers.

Enjoy!

Faint and gray my words,

Are lost in a sea of white.

Add more toner, please.

————————-

Bits of data are

flowing as water through straw.

Info nourishment.

I wrote this 25 years ago in response to my own high school education.  Wonder what my high school self would think of my current job helping high school teachers learn new techniques to engage their students in the learning process?

Teacher?

You stood there before us
with your white-washed bun,
your wine-wizened eyes,
and forced ideas upon us.

We complied,
(though not of our own free will)
and when the day came
returned your ideas
unused,
unchanged,
unnoticed.

Has it ever occurred to you
that I am who I am
not because of you,
but in spite of you?