Mattie the Poet

http://www.mattieonline.com/

We need to stop.Just stop.Stop for a moment.Before anybody Says or does anything That may hurt anyone else.We need to be silent.Just silent.Silent for a moment.Before we forever lose The blessing of songs That grow in our hearts.We need to notice.Just notice.Notice for a moment.Before the future slips away Into ashes and dust of humility.Stop, be silent, and notice.In so many ways, we are the same.Our differences are unique treasures.We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts To nurture, to offer, to accept.We need to be.Just be.Be for a moment.Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,Like children and lambs,Never judging or vengeful Like the judging and vengeful.And now, let us pray,Differently, yet together,Before there is no earth, no life,No chance for peace. September 11, 2001© Mattie

I thought it would be fitting to pick a poet for my author choice of the week. Mattie passed away in 2004 but five years later his words still live in the hearts of many. To be so young and full of creativity is amazing. God gave him a true gift of sharing, inspiring and loving. I think students may feel a connection with this brilliant young man because they share the gift of youth. If we teach our students to dig deep inside and find the words to describe those feeling then they will accomplish the gift of writing. Like Mrs. Pickett said in class, we can't say a students personal feelings about themselves can be wrong. This is what they believe and should be shared and accepted not rejected.