Not a Decision

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Not a Decision

I learned early

the importance of saving, collecting, keeping.
As if in response (or defiance)
my brain is determined to counter educate me 

in loss.

Memories slip away,
names and faces fade,
and though I reach deeply into recesses of thought to
fetch these memories,
no trick or strategy works.

This is a problem,
a puzzle I haven’t the ability to solve
because so many pieces
are inexplicably
gone.

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2017

This is a poem for Laura Shovan's Annual February Writing Project. The words/phrases for this poem

brain
decisions
memory
puzzle
problem
learn
strategy
flexibility
abilities
fetch

originated here.

Mother Nature Gets a Few Things Off Her Chest

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Mother Nature Gets a Few Things Off Her Chest

The human race
is a disaster.
They use their big brains
to foam with wrath
about fake news and propaganda and change.

They ignore me when they aren't
paving
mining
fracking
polluting
damming
deforesting
acidifying
dumping
obliterating
or otherwise
killing
me.

I am the truth.
I will remain
when the last earthquake
or the last drought
erases
the last human
from this planet.

They are helpless.
I do not practice conservation.
They will pay attention and live in harmony with me
or they will be erased from the equation of life.

They seem to have made their choice.
May the end come quickly.


©Mary Lee Hahn, 2017




This is a poem for Laura Shovan's Annual February Writing Project. The words/phrases for this poem

truth

nature

earthquake

fake

disaster

conservation

wrath

helpless

propaganda

drought

originated here.

Baking Bread (or Life in The Modern World)

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Baking Bread (or Life in The Modern World)

Why can't it be easy for once?
Instead, it starts off sticky
and keeps getting stickier
until necessary intervention.

Slow down.
Slower,
less speed,
deep breaths.

Suddenly, stickier becomes smoother
and by now you should know better --
difficult hides behind a screen of pliable
and soft is a precursor to crunchy.

Next comes growth.
A time of pure yeasty optimism
until the smashing and scraping
brings everything back into perspective

and before you know it
the boundaries are set
the heat is applied
the outcome revealed.

There is no such thing as easy,
only repetition after repetition.
Savor the warmth, the freshness.
Then start again.


©Mary Lee Hahn, 2017





This is a poem for Laura Shovan's Annual February Writing Project. The words/phrases for this poem

screen

shoot

stickier

soft

smashing

scraping

speed

smoother

slower

sticky

originated here.

They Can't Shut Us All Up

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They Can't Shut Us All Up

They can shut me up
but they can't change the truth--
I'm Rosa and Hillary, Malala and Ruth.

They can silence my voice
but I'll lead and you'll follow--
I'm Keller and Earhart, Cleopatra and Kahlo.

We rivet and code,
we teach and we heal,
orbit Earth, win Nobels,
go to prison for ideals.

They can't shut us all up
and they can't change what's true--
we're here to write history in PINK, not in blue.


©Mary Lee Hahn, 2017




This is a poem for Laura Shovan's Annual February Writing Project. The words/phrases for this poem

they

can

shut

me

up

but

they

can't

change

the 

truth

originated here.

We Were Buoyant

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We Were Buoyant

We were buoyant,
sure and confident.

Now, at the bottom of a chasm,
nearly buried in negativity,

we keep our eye on the edge
and work to relocate,

tow ourselves back up,
weather this disruption of democracy,

melt the ice that encases our heart
and remember who we truly are.

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2017

This is a poem for Laura Shovan's Annual February Writing Project. The words/phrases for this poem

ice
chasm
buoyant
exploration
relocation
disruption
buried
edge
tow
weather

originated here.

Memories

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memories of you

hidden in every corner

of my heart

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2017

This is a poem for Laura Shovan's Annual February Writing Project. The words/phrases for this poem

heart
women
escapism
roast
pudding
memories
touched
lasting
hidden
inspiring

originated here.

Mother Moon

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mother moon
wandering ancient sky-paths
tilts me a smile

©Mary Lee Hahn, 2017




This is a poem for Laura Shovan's Annual February Writing Project. The words/phrases for this poem

axis

rotation

wander

tilt

ancient

face

analyze

paint

creep

path

originated here.

Problem Solving Abecedarian

Problem Solving Abecedarian

Around the block I
bicycle, over and over until the idea I've
conceived is firm and true, every
detail considered from every angle. This
exercise
(four kinds: head, heart, legs, and lungs)
grants me
huge benefits; pays me vast
interest when
juggling all life throws my way.


©Mary Lee Hahn, 2017



This is a poem for Laura Shovan's Annual February Writing Project. The words/phrases for this poem

around

bicycle

conceived

detail

exercise

four

grants

huge

interest

juggling

originated here.

Education is Not a Business

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Education is Not a Business

The child lines up his teddy bears
to teach them ABCs.
He guides them gently in the task,
"The way Miss Smith taught me."

"We learn to share, hold hands in line,
protect and help and hug.
At story time in the media center
we find our place on the rug."

The profits from our nation's schools
aren't measured with nickels and dimes.
Our future's there within those walls --
let's polish them 'til they shine.


©Mary Lee Hahn, 2017



This is a poem for Laura Shovan's Annual February Writing Project. The words/phrases for this poem

worldview
help
shareholders
safer
protections
dishonest
media
replace
business
Messiah

originated here.

Teacher

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Teacher

Nothing prepared her for
the psychology of the actors,
the unfamiliar narrative framework,
the doubt she barely concealed
that bravery would ever find her.

And no one told her about
the tears that would suddenly pool,
the ache she couldn’t heal,
the glory of the learning
that would transcend it all.


©Mary Lee Hahn, 2017

This is a poem for Laura Shovan's Annual February Writing Project. The words/phrases for this poem

psychology
actors
narrative
framework
pool
bravery
transcends
capture
conceal
doubt

originated here.