Poetry
October
The month of October and the day of All Hallow's Eve on its' last day. There are a few Jewish religious days like Yom Kippur and one other one but to me October is one of fall chores from raking leaves and preparing gardens for winter and maybe even mowing grass one or more times before the end of the year. The leaves are changing to vibrant and vivid colors of yellow, gold, red and orange then jumping in them and starting all over again.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Now We Are Six
'Now We Are Six' is another book of poems written by A.A. Milne for his son Christopher Robin. It is a book of verses that will take you back to your early days and wonder what if. There are short poems and there is story poems. In this volume as the last volume of 'When We Were Very Young' Pooh Bear makes his appearance a few times looking for his friend. I have also read this volume of poems many times over the years and I believe that both these books of verse is one reason I am a poet, a writer, and a reader.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
When We Were Very Young. Top Story - May 2024.
In another box set that my parents got me when I was younger contained four books by A.A. Milne. 'When We Were Very Young' is a collection of poems that Milne wrote for his son Christopher Robin. This is a book that is full of references to Mr. Edward Bear, but a lot of the poems give some various descriptions of life of a very young child and where, when, how and why they do what they do. The illustrations are quite cute for you can see what Christopher Robin is and may be thinking. Also, Pooh Bear does make his self-known at various points. I have read these verses many, many times over the years and each time make me feel good about myself.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Eighth grade
Eighth grade my last year in what is known as middle school aka junior high. This is a transition year for most students for high school starts the next year. This is year that was all about learning more about the state that you live in from its' history to its' government. Our voices were all changing for the boys and the girls, and you would think that some us were actually left behind again for some reason some students did not fit for good reason (they seemed to adult looking) in many ways. Our various talents were tested from writing, singing or playing an instrument, or drawing and painting along with the practical arts of mechanical drawing and/or home economics. When I was in school, boys had industrial arts and girls had home economics. In the seventh grade my homeroom was the home economics room and I saw how to operate a sewing machine along with a washer and dryer. I knew how to cook and clean up the kitchen at home for I was a latchkey child to a point.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Seventh Grade
To me Seventh grade was the real beginning of middle school for one thing there was a new school with a different setup and new lockers for in sixth grade even though we switched classes we still kept our books and coats and lunches in our homerooms back then. We were treated differently more grown up. There was new equipment to use and learn. This was the beginning of what was known as open classrooms. There were two huge rooms that could be eight regular size classrooms (four classrooms in each large pod. Seventh grade was also when it seemed hormones seemed to flourish both physically and mentally and emotionally and even socially and some kind of felt left behind.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Sixth Grade
My sixth grade year was actually the start of my middle school/junior high years. This was the first year that I changed classes with each a separate teacher both male and female. I went from a 'grammar school' where my fifth grade stayed in one room to a building where we got to change rooms and learn in different ways. I mean one teacher still stood in front of the classroom while some teachers believed in group learning and doing various projects. It was a fun year for when seventh grade slowly approached there will be a new actual middle school.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Memorial Day
In the month of May at the end there's a holiday known as Memorial Day. It is a day set aside to give praise and honor to all who served this country known as America. It is a day that family and friends have a barbeque of hamburgers and hot dogs, potato salad, and some form of dessert and some kind of beverage depending on the wants of those that tend to want iced tea, beer or some other form of drink. Just remember this saying while remembering on this day. "Lest We Forget."
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Fifth Grade
On to the fifth grade when I had my first man teacher. This was my last year at one of the local elementary schools that my school district had at the time and it was a year that seemed to require more manners since we were the oldest students in the school. It was 1975 and I remember we actually got some new textbooks for science and health that were up-to-date. We were all just growing up and changing day to day as well as I think seeing others in a new way.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Fourth Grade
Who remembers fourth grade? This was the year that some called Upper elementary, and it did feel like we were not little kids anymore. The subjects got a little more detailed in the information presented and the homework got to be more presentable to the teacher. Fourth grade was the year of starting to really grow in many ways.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
September
September the end of Summer and the beginning of Fall and my favorite time of year the beginning of a new school year. I was one of those people who liked new school supplies, new books, new teachers and seeing and catching up with school friends. September is also when Fall cleanups for started as raking leaves and maybe splitting wood for the fireplace with a sledgehammer and chisel. Believe it or not that was kind of fun at times.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Dinosaurs
Oh, my dinosaurs seem to be everywhere these days even though they are extinct or are they. Dinosaurs are everywhere from schools to parks and everywhere in between. There are many varieties of these large mammals that range in size from the small to the very large. Just ask any preschooler and they can name many of these mammals.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
