" 'Tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free"

" 'Tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free" (from the American folk song "Simple Gifts"). I enjoy these gifts* + at the end of the school year I received several more types of gifts:
plant gifts, such as this tomato plant:

The newest addition to our window-sill garden :)

food gifts, such as these eggs laid by my colleague's "happy chickens" :)

things-for-Theta, such as these sewn by my students:

on the left is a wipes 'wallet'

as well as some poetry gifts. Here are some of the poems shared with me by my colleagues during my farewell party:

Stufen von Hermann Hesse = Phases by Hermann Hesse (translation's credit)

Wie jede Blüte welkt und jede Jugend Dem Alter weicht, blüht jede Lebensstufe, Blüht jede Weisheit auch und jede Tugend Zu ihrer Zeit und darf nicht ewig dauern. Es muß das Herz bei jedem Lebensrufe Bereit zum Abschied sein und Neubeginne, Um sich in Tapferkeit und ohne Trauern In andre, neue Bindungen zu geben. Und jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber inne, Der uns beschützt und der uns hilft, zu leben. Wir sollen heiter Raum um Raum durchschreiten, An keinem wie an einer Heimat hängen, Der Weltgeist will nicht fesseln uns und engen, Er will uns Stuf' um Stufe heben, weiten. Kaum sind wir heimisch einem Lebenskreise Und traulich eingewohnt, so droht Erschlaffen, Nur wer bereit zu Aufbruch ist und Reise, Mag lähmender Gewöhnung sich entraffen. Es wird vielleicht auch noch die Todesstunde Uns neuen Räumen jung entgegen senden, Des Lebens Ruf an uns wird niemals enden... Wohlan denn, Herz, nimm Abschied und gesunde!

As every flower wilts and youth gives way to age, so unfolds every phase, all the wisdom and virtue when it so does - and know that none lasts forever. With every call of life, the heart must be ready to part and start again, in courage and joy, surrendering to new, otherly liasons, as In the core of every beginning lives magic Magic that protects us and helps us live. We are to stride along spaces, joyously, clinging to none as thought it was home the world soul does not seek to fetter and confine us; phase after phase it wants to elevate and expand us. slumber grows threatening as soon as we, immersed in coziness, become used to a cycle in our lives - Only those ready to part, depart may rid themselves of paralyzing habits. Perhaps, as the call of life in us finds no end, at the hour of our death we are still to be faced with novel spaces. walk on then, be off, be well!, oh sweet heart of ours.

painted by Daniela Drescher
-- an artist with an eye for detail + magic :)

Wise words from Osho (with my translation)

Lass den Verstand fallen,    der in Prosa denkt; Belebe eine andere Art von Geist,    der in Poesie denkt. Lege alle Logik beiseite; Lass Lieder dein Leben bestimmen. Bewege dich vom Intellekt zur Intuition,    vom Kopf zum Herzen, denn das Herz ist näher am Mysterium.

Let thy intellect fall,    that thinks in prose; enliven another type of spirit,    that thinks in verse. Lay aside all logic: let songs direct thy life. Move from intellect to intuition,    from head to heart for the heart is closer to the mysterious.

And 2 poems about me written by one of my students :)

on the left is a hook that I can attach to the wall, whittled by my student

The acrostic poem translates thusly (+ no longer fits with my name...ah well!):
K- smart
L- dear
E- unique
I- ideal
N- nice
E- imaginitive
R- considerate

The limerick translates thusly:
Once there lived in Kiel
Mrs. Kleiner, who we liked a lot
she loved to play violin
and dance in the round
she laughed often + gladly

I hope that one of my gifts to them has been an enjoyment of poetry :) As a child we memorized poems as a family, especially by A.A. Milne, such as "Jonathan Jo" and "Disobedience". I also enjoyed writing poems in school + have been dabbling in poetry-writing ever since!

A rose that actually smells rose-like? I approve!

°°° Have you ever been gifted a poem? Do you enjoy reading poetry? or even writing it? Feel free to share!


*German side note: Although in German the word "das Gift" means 'the poison', I'm referring to the English term meaning 'a present', given to show thanks, celebrate some occasion, etc. :)