a poem for 9/11 How do we liveIn such a dayWhen hateful soulsSteal hope away?Where man-made mountainsTopple down,And wishful fountainsMark the groundWhere loved ones’Memories float aroundOn every prayerthat’s whispered there? How do we singWhen our breath was stilledBy frightful peopleWith hearts so chilled?No fire of love,No human care,Those scornful waysThey acted … [Read more...] about For Sake of Hope, By: Thomas Hemminger
Ranchwork, By: Thomas Hemminger
Walking the fence-line,on a hot, thirsty day. I mend the barbed-wire here and there.The sun-hot metal turns my hands red. The dog gets in the waybut cares about the work we do together. It’s nice to have a friend. Not a cloud in the sky,and the fields are too dry. The rickety stalks click and snap together,when they should rustle gently in the … [Read more...] about Ranchwork, By: Thomas Hemminger
Say Cheese!, By: Thomas Hemminger
Your fifth birthday partywhen our bonehead neighborblew out your candles andmade you cry…but some cake and ice cream sure helpedto make a great picture, Sweetheart. Eight years after that you opened yourgiant birthday present andsaw Shelby for the first time,bow around her neck,looking up at you for answers.What a great reason to cry again, … [Read more...] about Say Cheese!, By: Thomas Hemminger
Remembering You, By: Thomas Hemminger
Remember the times we used to setout on our front porch in the swingenjoying the tulips of an Iowa springsprouting in our flower bed.You were ever so ornery to the last;your hands still stained with garden dirt.“You keep those off of my brand new skirt,”sparing you none of my famous sass.It started to rain one afternoonas we were talking of this and that;I stroked the hair … [Read more...] about Remembering You, By: Thomas Hemminger
When Children Are Learning, By: Thomas Hemminger
Did you know? Did you know?Did you know that it’s alright to wonder?Did you know that it’s alright to wonder?There are all kinds of wonderful things. -Fred Rogers My favorite timeto watch children learnisn’t in the classroom. It isn’t when they’re seatedin rows of neatly ordered desks,waiting to follow the next set of instructions. It isn’t when they’re standing … [Read more...] about When Children Are Learning, By: Thomas Hemminger