Here's to You, Sir....[a memory, re-inspired by some Prose...]

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Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

0 posted 2003-06-12 09:53 AM

Here's to You, Sir……

For no reason
a fifth grade memory
visited me today                 (saw a pair of blue eyes)
now bear in mind
I was a late bloomer
always younger
than the kids in my class
always the youngest
the latest to bloom
not much room
for self-esteem

but fifth grade still
has a touch of magic           (saw a fleck of gold hair)
when you're a dreamer
and I was a dreamer
who wanted to do

can a doer be a dreamer?
                                            (when someone believes)
sometimes….

HE was very special
and had a grand name         (Jim to some, James to others)
and in this time of
today when there are
really no heroes…
like there were heroes
back then                            (where have all the heroes gone?)
HE was a hero to me
he wasn't a James Dean
nor a Rex Harrison,
hardly a Sean, and in no way
a Wayne
but he was a hero,
all the same

they say your fifth grade teacher
can turn your life around
lift up from down              (raising hands to volunteer)
plant an invisible crown
with slight smiles
or soft sounds
                                          (wiping chalkboards, clapping erasers)
one did their homework
to honor him
stood a little straighter
just to please him!            (he had that "smile")
boys liked him
girls…had crushes….
and in morning rushes
he stood tall, and calm
and with a hand raised
in quiet wave
he waved us all … on …
                                         (and on and on and on)
he had that "teacher chemistry"
not like a dad, or much loved mom
but you wanted a moment
to reflect upon…
this "magic" of his key….

no way that a few words,
or in a moment, impart
how this teacher
touched all of our hearts…
though later that summer
during break
how all of us joined
in swift wrench of heartache
to hear of his passing
during summer vacation
a year before
the hurt of a nation…

today I had a memory
and it won't leave
a special one said
"…in you I believe…"
and it called me
back to a long past view
when he said
those words, too…
I've done my best
with my time on earth
to say to others
~ I believe in you… ~

Mr. VanNorman…
~ I'll always remember you ~
your lessons of yesterday
still ring true…

1.30.01

Cpat Hair

Member Patricius

since 2001-06-05

Posts 11793

1 posted 2003-06-12 09:55 AM

a nice tribute to one of the many people who throughout our lives touch us in some way..

well done

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean

since 2002-08-27

Posts 40215
Realms of Light

2 posted 2003-06-12 10:07 AM

This should be read by teachers everywhere! Your poem illustrates how they can make a difference in their students' lives!

I enjoyed both the spirit and the unique format of this delightful write!

Sunny hugs for a ray of sunshine,
EA

Nightshade

Member Patricius

since 2001-08-31

Posts 13962
just out of reach

3 posted 2003-06-12 10:22 AM

Karilea, this is a wonderful write. A great tribute to someone who obviously touched your life. It's really strange that you post this now, as a couple of weeks ago...I ran into my seventh grade teacher, who still remembered me!! He is seventy now, but the years have been good to him and his smile is still the same. Thankyou for this. hugs to you sweet lady. Chris

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

4 posted 2003-06-12 10:28 AM

I love this, Sunshiney one... the parentheticals are a beautiful counterpoint... the tribute is magnificent.

And the underlying message for every teacher is... you make a difference every time you lift up, every time you put down... and those differences last a lifetime. *S*

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

5 posted 2003-06-12 10:47 AM

Karilea....A very touching tribute to a special teacher. I wish that more teachers understood the impact they can have on young lives...they might try to be more like this one.

Larry C

Member Patricius

since 2001-09-10

Posts 10286
United States

6 posted 2003-06-12 10:56 AM

Karilea,
Thank you. How delighted I am to have been able to share in this memory! Makes me think of Ginger and her students. The impact of a teacher. How about our impact? Like you on my life. We never know...

If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.

Patricia
Member Elite

since 2003-04-06

Posts 2160
Missouri

7 posted 2003-06-12 11:29 AM

And, my friend, that is why I teach. An altruistic act?...no such thing. I know I make a difference and in that I see my worth.
When I walk into my school, those kids know who I am and that allows me to know who I am.

Love this one, K. Near and dear to my heart!
Patricia

vandana

Member Patricius

since 1999-10-22

Posts 10463
USA

8 posted 2003-06-12 11:59 AM

nice read

Magnus

Member Laureate

since 2001-10-10

Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA

9 posted 2003-06-12 06:05 PM

Just a little speechless and a whole lot
of other things right now...

Absorbing....

Gosh...

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

10 posted 2003-06-12 07:38 PM

Wow!! Special people and the influence they have on our lives..
Well done!
~Hugs~

~Somewhere in my heart I'm always
dancing with you in the summer rain~

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

11 posted 2003-06-12 07:55 PM

What an honor to bestow upon a teacher, Karilea.

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

12 posted 2003-06-12 08:03 PM

Such an impressive write, SUnshine. We owe teachers so much and how easy it is to forget how instrumental they were in our formative years. It's wonderful of you to honor one special teacher's contribution to what you grew to be. I'm sure he was a very special man....

NewEnglandlazurlu
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-01-04

Posts 7470
A Mountain Paradise

13 posted 2003-06-12 08:25 PM

Dear lady this was truly inspirational and what a testament to all the people who inspired and probably didn't even realize it.

Funny how some little thing can trigger a truck load of memories.

I enjoyed this immensely. Thank you!!
Hugs, Marti

Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts. A.Einstein

QjQ
Member Elite

since 2003-04-18

Posts 3756
U.S.A.

14 posted 2003-06-12 08:53 PM

gee "k" what a inspiration this write has, i really enjoyed it!!! thank you,,,

QjQ

devinechild22
Senior Member

since 2002-08-28

Posts 571

15 posted 2003-06-12 09:10 PM

Wow...That was amazing. I had seen some of your poems before and so I clicked on this one. One of the best clicks I ever made! LOL I loved the format you presented it in. I pictured someone telling their child or grandchild this story of a truly amazing teacher and as they told it a few small details popped into their head. Im excited to read more of your work! Once again great job!
*Allison*

gyiel marlok
Member

since 2003-06-08

Posts 145
OHIO

16 posted 2003-06-12 09:22 PM

this is short story/poem greatness

garysgirl

Member Laureate

since 2002-09-29

Posts 19237
Florida, USA

17 posted 2003-06-12 11:42 PM

Karilea, it is amazing the way someone can
influence anothers life, isn't it? Not only teachers, but each of us...even on here...can be a great help and infulence to someone else. We never know how much someone needs a kind word.

And, yes....just to tell someone that they are special to us...we don't know how much they may have needed those few words at that time.

Thank you for this, Karilea....fo sharing your memories with us.

Hugs

Ethel

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

18 posted 2003-06-13 03:46 AM

I wish I had written this...

just beautiful!

Local Rebel
Member Ascendant

since 1999-12-21

Posts 5767
Southern Abstentia

19 posted 2003-06-22 06:13 PM

indeed where have all the heroes gone?

this one takes me back... a bittersweet path Kara Lee...

LeeJ
Member Patricius

since 2003-06-19

Posts 13296

20 posted 2003-06-22 06:36 PM

this was such an enjoyable read, a thorough walk down memory lane, thank you for many warm and friendly thoughts in this beautiful write.

ecrivan
Member Elite

since 2001-12-10

Posts 3923
my own state

21 posted 2003-06-22 08:50 PM

there is always an unexoectd visitor or visitors in our lives from the past..nice write

Artic Wind
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 8080
Realm of Supernatural

22 posted 2008-08-07 11:46 PM

Sunshine,
I had to read this one twice because it was so uplifting!-- Teachers really do have that affect of kids these days. They guide us through struggles and be there when we succeed during good times and Bad!

Just a lovely tribute to him, I am so sorry that he passed. Atleast he finished his life Job
... To teach you and to make you Succeed!

what a Wonderful Write Dear Sunshine!-- You really do bright up the sky! *hehehe*

ARCTIC WIND

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