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On the Write Side

Writing and reading in community:
I share my observations and experiences on writing, reading and listening. Venues include: open mics, Zoom readings, workshops, publications, book clubs and beyond... because everything has a story, it is open for interpretation.

Sunflower Sisters'  Tea Time Journey

4/22/2017

1 Comment

 
A Tea Time Journey

​When you open your door
There is the brilliance of a sun room
The softness of quilts and old photos
A tea time journey into memories
Of the neighborhood house
Where all the kids run to play
With plastic cups and saucers, we
Sit ladylike around a table
Pretend to pour – sit and drink.
We were beautiful in our innocence,
As secure as sunflowers
In an open field
Colored and free.

The young girls I played with then
I do not know now
And the ladies I know now
I did not know then,
But there is a mingling of memories,
Aroma of friendship, 
Potent and timeless.
One by one we come together
Sepia leaves.
Hand-in-hand
We steep in the warmth of prayer,
Sweet soothe of healing
We simmer in the joy of sisterhood
As memories bubble up laughter.

​This tea time journey from
Past-to-present-to-future
The taste of love and friendship
In our cup,
And you the perfect hostess
Always ready to pour more...
Full and overflowing we sit
As secure as sunflowers
In an open field
We are at home.


By Romaine Washington © 1998
Previously published in: 
​In the Company of Women literary anthology FL. 2001
Picture

Sojourners is a group of ladies who gather to enjoy each other's company and study the word in a dynamic in depth - I mean deep  steeped like tea deep - never think or see the same way again, deep Word of God deep way.

It has been a delight. Each gathering is a unique memory unto itself. Sometimes it's at a member's home, other times, the Maloof  House and this particular day we were pleasantly surprised by Sheila Marchbank's new found gem of a location, The Farm Cottage Tea House in Alta Loma for tea and cakes, the beginning of Sydney Aden's birthday celebration, and...

In 1998 I wrote a poem, A Tea Time Journey, to celebrate the hospitality of a lady by the name of Lorna (last name escapes me) who lived in Georgia. I was a part of a bible study group of ladies and we called ourselves The Sistah's Hour. There have been very few times in my life where I have had that visual, spiritual, emotional connected experience. This Saturday was one of those days and so, here is the poem and some photos from this beautiful day.


Maloof House
5131 Carnelian St.
Alta Loma, CA 91701

1 Comment

CATE & the Sirens Journey

2/18/2017

2 Comments

 
Picture
"I plan to present Sirens at the California Association Teachers of English Conference." There was no plan in place at the time, only what seemed like a logical hope.
​
Working with the editors at Jamii Publishing it was suggested that I put footnotes with the poems. I never expressed it, but internally I felt  uncomfortable ...and it was interesting to hear a well-established poet announce her dislike of poetry with footnotes at a writer's workshop... I took note and thought about how at one point I might have agreed, but the Sirens journey requested to be clearly identified - and the answer served well. 

​One of my colleagues was eager to teach the poems to her class. The footnotes were an opportunity to provide historical background. Invited into her classroom, I saw how the issues addressed were points that could be explored even further.... 

​It was at this point that I was grateful for the footnotes and those footnotes were a springboard to creating unit lesson plans - research - technology and providing my colleague with a myriad of options for teaching some of the concepts. It was more than exciting as she shared the growth and talked about her appreciation of the rigor, the engaging resources and most importantly student learning. Footnotes - technology - website - zoom. With her feedback and conversations with students - that unplanned declaration became a planned presentation.

Sirens and the CATE presentation were a perfect combination that I couldn't have planned in my best dream. ​

2 Comments

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Siren's Lessons
Content in Sirens Lessons is free and for educational purposes. Lessons may be used to compliment poetry books by Romaine Washington or as stand alone lessons or with other writing.
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© 2023 Romaine Washington
Photos used under Creative Commons from aquigabo!, vhines200, kennethkonica, Edgardo W. Olivera, vhines200
  • Home
  • Events
  • Community
    • ARTICLES
    • Blogs >
      • On the Write Side
      • Ro's Reflections
    • GALLERY
  • Books
    • PURGATORY HAS AN ADDRESS
    • SIRENS IN HER BELLY
    • SIREN'S LESSON >
      • POETRY TERMS
      • DIVERSE WRITERS
      • SOCIAL JUSTICE >
        • SOCIAL JUSTICE LESSONS >
          • STANDARDS
          • BIAS
          • RACISM
          • WHITE SUPREMACY
          • POETRY ANALYSIS
          • EMPOWERMENT >
            • DEBATES >
              • FREE SPEECH
            • TED TALK
      • MENTAL HEALTH >
        • MH LESSONS >
          • AWARENESS
          • MINDFULNESS
          • STIGMA
          • MENTAL HEALTH: SUICIDE PREVENTION
          • ANALYSIS
          • MH RESEARCH >
            • Mind & African Americans
            • Mind & Asians
            • Mind Indigenous
            • Mind & Intersectionaltiy
            • Mind & Latinx Community
            • Mind & LGBTQ+
            • Mind & Middle E.
            • Mind & Police
            • Mind & Racism
            • Mind Special Needs
      • BEAUTY >
        • BEAUTY LESSONS >
          • PERCEPTION
          • BEAUTY BIAS
          • BEAUTY
          • UGLY?
          • HAIR BEAUTY
          • POETRY ANALYSIS >
            • BEAUTY RESEARCH
      • RELATIONSHIPS >
        • RELATIONSHIP LESSONS >
          • POETRY ANALYSIS
          • CROSSING BOUNDARIES
          • HEALTHY
  • Contact