This document provides an introduction and overview to a collection of poems titled "Through the Eyes of a Child" by Jeffrey Robert Lewis. The introduction discusses Lewis' goal of opening his heart and exposing his soul through sharing personal stories and memories. It explains that the poems are based on discussions with adults about their children and sometimes children about their parents. The collection aims to honor the inner thoughts, fears and triumphs of parents along with reminding them how their love has helped shape their community.
This document is an introduction to a collection of poetry titled "Words to Nourish the Soul". It describes how the collection was inspired by conversations the author had while visiting cigar bars and listening to people share their stories. The goal was to capture thoughts from these conversations in a collection of poetry meant to speak to the soul and heart of readers. The author hopes readers will re-read the poems to fully appreciate the deeper meanings beneath the words.
This document contains analyses of several poems. The first analysis summarizes a poem titled "Shopping for Yourself" as being about not needing to rush through life and appreciating what you have. The next two analyses summarize additional poems about feeling trapped by emotions and the ups and downs of life.
This document provides an introduction and index for a collection of poetry and prose by Allan D Stewart from 1946 to 2005. The introduction discusses how the author finds inspiration from life's emotions and experiences and hopes readers can find meaning and understanding from his writings. It includes a sample poem titled "Always There" about the author feeling alone for the first time but having parents who were always supportive.
The document provides an update on the Lovesworld project in Baula, Malawi. It discusses how the project has grown since its inception, including establishing a food and clothes bank and an orphan corner serving over 30 children. It expresses gratitude to the volunteers in Baula who care for the children. It then shares a report from Martha Lowole about the launch party held on August 26th 2012 to celebrate the women's project, which was accepted and applauded by the community. The summary highlights the positive impact and growth of the Lovesworld project in Baula, Malawi.
This document is an introduction to an anthology of ecphrasis poetry written by 6th grade students at Newtown Friends School about the Israel-Palestine conflict. Ecphrasis poetry describes works of art, and the students each wrote poems responding to photographs related to the conflict. The introduction provides background on ecphrasis poetry and explains that the students studied the history of the conflict before choosing photographs and writing original poems from different perspectives. The document then shares several of the students' ecphrasis poems responding to and interpreting the photographs.
This document is an excerpt from a book titled "From Heart: Plainly Spoken" which is a collection of poems written by the author based on conversations with people about the person who stole their heart. The excerpt includes 4 poems: one dedicated to the author's wife describing how she completes him, another from a veteran to his wife about how she changed his life, another about instantly falling in love at first sight on a blind date, and a final one about falling in love with an older woman and being taken by her kindness and softness.
The document is a collection of poems and explanations dedicated to the author's best friends as they graduate high school and go their separate ways. It includes individual poems for friends Chrissy, Dan, Cheyenne, and Kayla describing shared memories and their significance. It also includes a general poem about friendship and one analyzing Christina Rossetti's poem "A Birthday" about being reborn through finding love. The author hopes to remember their friends and time together through this dedicated work.
This document is the dedication page from a poetry project. The author dedicates the poems to their parents, thanking their mother for all her support over the years and their father for being a role model. The dedication includes several poems by the author analyzing different styles and topics, as well as poems by Shel Silverstein and Langston Hughes to honor their mother's love of reading poetry to them.
This document is an introduction to a collection of poetry titled "Words to Nourish the Soul". It describes how the collection was inspired by conversations the author had while visiting cigar bars and listening to people share their stories. The goal was to capture thoughts from these conversations in a collection of poetry meant to speak to the soul and heart of readers. The author hopes readers will re-read the poems to fully appreciate the deeper meanings beneath the words.
This document contains analyses of several poems. The first analysis summarizes a poem titled "Shopping for Yourself" as being about not needing to rush through life and appreciating what you have. The next two analyses summarize additional poems about feeling trapped by emotions and the ups and downs of life.
This document provides an introduction and index for a collection of poetry and prose by Allan D Stewart from 1946 to 2005. The introduction discusses how the author finds inspiration from life's emotions and experiences and hopes readers can find meaning and understanding from his writings. It includes a sample poem titled "Always There" about the author feeling alone for the first time but having parents who were always supportive.
The document provides an update on the Lovesworld project in Baula, Malawi. It discusses how the project has grown since its inception, including establishing a food and clothes bank and an orphan corner serving over 30 children. It expresses gratitude to the volunteers in Baula who care for the children. It then shares a report from Martha Lowole about the launch party held on August 26th 2012 to celebrate the women's project, which was accepted and applauded by the community. The summary highlights the positive impact and growth of the Lovesworld project in Baula, Malawi.
This document is an introduction to an anthology of ecphrasis poetry written by 6th grade students at Newtown Friends School about the Israel-Palestine conflict. Ecphrasis poetry describes works of art, and the students each wrote poems responding to photographs related to the conflict. The introduction provides background on ecphrasis poetry and explains that the students studied the history of the conflict before choosing photographs and writing original poems from different perspectives. The document then shares several of the students' ecphrasis poems responding to and interpreting the photographs.
This document is an excerpt from a book titled "From Heart: Plainly Spoken" which is a collection of poems written by the author based on conversations with people about the person who stole their heart. The excerpt includes 4 poems: one dedicated to the author's wife describing how she completes him, another from a veteran to his wife about how she changed his life, another about instantly falling in love at first sight on a blind date, and a final one about falling in love with an older woman and being taken by her kindness and softness.
The document is a collection of poems and explanations dedicated to the author's best friends as they graduate high school and go their separate ways. It includes individual poems for friends Chrissy, Dan, Cheyenne, and Kayla describing shared memories and their significance. It also includes a general poem about friendship and one analyzing Christina Rossetti's poem "A Birthday" about being reborn through finding love. The author hopes to remember their friends and time together through this dedicated work.
This document is the dedication page from a poetry project. The author dedicates the poems to their parents, thanking their mother for all her support over the years and their father for being a role model. The dedication includes several poems by the author analyzing different styles and topics, as well as poems by Shel Silverstein and Langston Hughes to honor their mother's love of reading poetry to them.
This poem is dedicated to the author's mother. It expresses gratitude for all that mothers do, from caring for their children to making sacrifices and putting their children's needs first. The author learned many life lessons from their mother, such as bringing food and comfort to others who are grieving. The poem conveys that while motherhood is difficult, the joy it brings makes all the challenges worthwhile.
This document provides biographical information about the poet Raouf Reda and includes several of his poems. It lists his education, employment, contact information, interests and activities. It then presents 9 poems he has written on various topics like love, heartbreak, friendship and blessings. The poems range in length from 2 to 6 stanzas.
The document is a collection of poems and passages about various topics related to black identity and experience such as passion, being born black, vigelence, black fate, whitney houston, granma, and more. The poems explore themes of pride in black identity, the struggles and prejudices faced by black people, remembering loved ones, and having hope and dreams for the future.
This document provides an overview of the contents of the Lovesworld publication, which includes stories, poems, music lyrics, and articles on various topics aimed at spreading messages of love, hope, and inspiration. The introduction explains that Lovesworld seeks to help readers remember their ability to see things differently and make positive changes in their lives and perspectives, just as geese can fly over fences. The publication aims to reflect a world filled with hope where all people are respected.
This document is a yearbook from Pontybrenin Primary School for the 2011-2012 school year. It includes messages from the head teacher and class teachers, as well as profiles of the graduating Year 6 students. Each student profile highlights their favorite memory, funniest moment, and best friends from their time at the school. The head teacher and teachers wish the students the best as they move on to comprehensive school and remember their time at Pontybrenin fondly.
The agenda covers the following topics: discussing Essay #2, having an in-class writing on SBB, and discussing QHQ SBB. The document then discusses wordiness and concise writing, identifying unnecessary words like deadwood, utility words, and circumlocution that weaken writing. It provides examples and tips for eliminating wordiness.
This poem describes childhood through the lens of a parent watching their child grow up. It uses imagery of the child going down slides and experiencing rainbows to represent early childhood. As the child grows older, the parent looks back fondly on memories through old pictures, but also feels sadness as the child is now grown and will soon leave home. The camera represents how the parent captured these childhood memories in photographs over time.
This summary provides the key details from the poems in 3 sentences or less:
The first poem discusses living life fully from year to year without dwelling on the past or fearing the future, traveling cheerfully down whatever path is taken. The second poem explores how change, though difficult, is necessary for growth. The third poem defines true freedom as having the courage to be yourself and let others be themselves.
The meaning of life is unique to each individual. When one is ready, they enter a warehouse containing boxes, each holding a sheet declaring that person's personal meaning. Not all meanings are positive - some, like Hitler's, aimed to cause harm. However, people with seemingly opposite meanings, like Hitler and Churchill, could share similar philosophies. Truly understanding one's purpose requires actively searching for it; most will remain ignorant of their meaning. Finding it rewards the seeker with self-knowledge.
Voice Excepts from WRITING THROUGH THE CRISISBrooke Warner
The summary provides high-level information about the key details and events across multiple documents in 3 sentences or less:
The documents describe various musical compositions and their ability to convey emotion through different instruments and sections of the orchestra. Several passages then discuss family dynamics and relationships, including a mother's love for her son and recollection of her marriage. Additional excerpts explore themes of identity, memory, and storytelling from the perspective of different authors.
The document contains several short poems and quotes about love, relationships, heartbreak, and life. Some key themes that emerge are the pain of losing love, learning from past relationships and mistakes, making the most of life and time, and how love can both empower and hurt us.
This portfolio documents the student's growth in understanding literacy over the course of a semester. They learned that literacy involves reading more than just words - one can read different elements of the world. Through assignments analyzing everyday activities and media like advertisements, the student gained a broader view of literacy and how to think critically about the social implications of texts. Their idea of literacy expanded from basic reading and writing to encompass the many ways people communicate and interact through language.
GeoCities is closing Oct 26th so I put a few of the poems that were sent to me years ago onto powerpoint for your viewing pleausre.
A shorter version of "Tonys Cafe" has been moved to www.PowerLegacy.Com
The document contains a collection of poems and letters from an older sibling to their younger sister Anya. The poems discuss life lessons, choices, love, and share excerpts from other poets. The letters provide context for each poem and offer advice to help guide Anya through challenges in her life. Overall, the document aims to pass wisdom from one generation to the next through the medium of poetry.
This article discusses the author's experience while their mother was away for three months studying abroad. In the first month, the author struggled with sadness and responsibility for taking care of the home and family. However, over time the author became more independent and responsible, learning how difficult being a mother can be. The author encourages readers to appreciate their mothers for all their hard work and sacrifices.
For my sister, thank you for all you've done for me in the years we've known each other. I hope that this way for me to give back to you is helpful and useful in your own life.
This is my "poetry book" that I've created for my English III class. Of course, it was actually cut out and pasted onto construction paper on the final copy, but otherwise this was the "main" part of it all.
The agenda covers three main topics: 1) Discussing essay #2, 2) Discussing QHQ SBB, and 3) An in-class writing on SBB. It also includes subsections on wordiness, unnecessary words to eliminate, and punctuation. The document provides guidance and suggestions for improving conciseness and clarity in writing.
This document describes how to earn money through a direct referral program. You earn 500 pesos for each direct referral and another 500 pesos when your referrals complete a matching pair by recruiting one person to your left side and another to your right. The more people you recruit and the more their downlines grow, the more bonus pairs you will accumulate. There is potential to earn thousands weekly through direct referral bonuses and sales match bonuses as your network expands exponentially.
Avit theophil presentation on ngo's role as private actor- Nairobi KenyaAvith Theophil
We have been seeing failure of public admnistration when private sectors are not fully involved in policy planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Therefore, my study aims at investigating on roles that NGOs play in implementation of Tanzania child development policy of 1996 case of Karagwe district, in Kagera region. I will be presenting my academic proposal on 4th-5th of April, 2014 at Nairobi Kenya to MKU Postgraduate school defence
This poem is dedicated to the author's mother. It expresses gratitude for all that mothers do, from caring for their children to making sacrifices and putting their children's needs first. The author learned many life lessons from their mother, such as bringing food and comfort to others who are grieving. The poem conveys that while motherhood is difficult, the joy it brings makes all the challenges worthwhile.
This document provides biographical information about the poet Raouf Reda and includes several of his poems. It lists his education, employment, contact information, interests and activities. It then presents 9 poems he has written on various topics like love, heartbreak, friendship and blessings. The poems range in length from 2 to 6 stanzas.
The document is a collection of poems and passages about various topics related to black identity and experience such as passion, being born black, vigelence, black fate, whitney houston, granma, and more. The poems explore themes of pride in black identity, the struggles and prejudices faced by black people, remembering loved ones, and having hope and dreams for the future.
This document provides an overview of the contents of the Lovesworld publication, which includes stories, poems, music lyrics, and articles on various topics aimed at spreading messages of love, hope, and inspiration. The introduction explains that Lovesworld seeks to help readers remember their ability to see things differently and make positive changes in their lives and perspectives, just as geese can fly over fences. The publication aims to reflect a world filled with hope where all people are respected.
This document is a yearbook from Pontybrenin Primary School for the 2011-2012 school year. It includes messages from the head teacher and class teachers, as well as profiles of the graduating Year 6 students. Each student profile highlights their favorite memory, funniest moment, and best friends from their time at the school. The head teacher and teachers wish the students the best as they move on to comprehensive school and remember their time at Pontybrenin fondly.
The agenda covers the following topics: discussing Essay #2, having an in-class writing on SBB, and discussing QHQ SBB. The document then discusses wordiness and concise writing, identifying unnecessary words like deadwood, utility words, and circumlocution that weaken writing. It provides examples and tips for eliminating wordiness.
This poem describes childhood through the lens of a parent watching their child grow up. It uses imagery of the child going down slides and experiencing rainbows to represent early childhood. As the child grows older, the parent looks back fondly on memories through old pictures, but also feels sadness as the child is now grown and will soon leave home. The camera represents how the parent captured these childhood memories in photographs over time.
This summary provides the key details from the poems in 3 sentences or less:
The first poem discusses living life fully from year to year without dwelling on the past or fearing the future, traveling cheerfully down whatever path is taken. The second poem explores how change, though difficult, is necessary for growth. The third poem defines true freedom as having the courage to be yourself and let others be themselves.
The meaning of life is unique to each individual. When one is ready, they enter a warehouse containing boxes, each holding a sheet declaring that person's personal meaning. Not all meanings are positive - some, like Hitler's, aimed to cause harm. However, people with seemingly opposite meanings, like Hitler and Churchill, could share similar philosophies. Truly understanding one's purpose requires actively searching for it; most will remain ignorant of their meaning. Finding it rewards the seeker with self-knowledge.
Voice Excepts from WRITING THROUGH THE CRISISBrooke Warner
The summary provides high-level information about the key details and events across multiple documents in 3 sentences or less:
The documents describe various musical compositions and their ability to convey emotion through different instruments and sections of the orchestra. Several passages then discuss family dynamics and relationships, including a mother's love for her son and recollection of her marriage. Additional excerpts explore themes of identity, memory, and storytelling from the perspective of different authors.
The document contains several short poems and quotes about love, relationships, heartbreak, and life. Some key themes that emerge are the pain of losing love, learning from past relationships and mistakes, making the most of life and time, and how love can both empower and hurt us.
This portfolio documents the student's growth in understanding literacy over the course of a semester. They learned that literacy involves reading more than just words - one can read different elements of the world. Through assignments analyzing everyday activities and media like advertisements, the student gained a broader view of literacy and how to think critically about the social implications of texts. Their idea of literacy expanded from basic reading and writing to encompass the many ways people communicate and interact through language.
GeoCities is closing Oct 26th so I put a few of the poems that were sent to me years ago onto powerpoint for your viewing pleausre.
A shorter version of "Tonys Cafe" has been moved to www.PowerLegacy.Com
The document contains a collection of poems and letters from an older sibling to their younger sister Anya. The poems discuss life lessons, choices, love, and share excerpts from other poets. The letters provide context for each poem and offer advice to help guide Anya through challenges in her life. Overall, the document aims to pass wisdom from one generation to the next through the medium of poetry.
This article discusses the author's experience while their mother was away for three months studying abroad. In the first month, the author struggled with sadness and responsibility for taking care of the home and family. However, over time the author became more independent and responsible, learning how difficult being a mother can be. The author encourages readers to appreciate their mothers for all their hard work and sacrifices.
For my sister, thank you for all you've done for me in the years we've known each other. I hope that this way for me to give back to you is helpful and useful in your own life.
This is my "poetry book" that I've created for my English III class. Of course, it was actually cut out and pasted onto construction paper on the final copy, but otherwise this was the "main" part of it all.
The agenda covers three main topics: 1) Discussing essay #2, 2) Discussing QHQ SBB, and 3) An in-class writing on SBB. It also includes subsections on wordiness, unnecessary words to eliminate, and punctuation. The document provides guidance and suggestions for improving conciseness and clarity in writing.
This document describes how to earn money through a direct referral program. You earn 500 pesos for each direct referral and another 500 pesos when your referrals complete a matching pair by recruiting one person to your left side and another to your right. The more people you recruit and the more their downlines grow, the more bonus pairs you will accumulate. There is potential to earn thousands weekly through direct referral bonuses and sales match bonuses as your network expands exponentially.
Avit theophil presentation on ngo's role as private actor- Nairobi KenyaAvith Theophil
We have been seeing failure of public admnistration when private sectors are not fully involved in policy planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Therefore, my study aims at investigating on roles that NGOs play in implementation of Tanzania child development policy of 1996 case of Karagwe district, in Kagera region. I will be presenting my academic proposal on 4th-5th of April, 2014 at Nairobi Kenya to MKU Postgraduate school defence
This Black History Month 'Power Point Slide Show' was one of the last emails that Clarencetta sent out before her 'Transition.' Cetta was a "Proud African American Woman." She was always willing to share funny emails and helpful information. Enjoy!
The document discusses ensuring consistency across a band's main product and ancillary texts to increase the chance of success. It focuses on using the same font, colors, graphics, costumes, and prominence of the lead singer to clearly link the album, single, and music video. This creates a cohesive marketing campaign and makes it obvious that all three products were created for the same band.
This document provides a summary of a request for authorization of genetically modified (GM) food and GM feed in accordance with EU regulations. Specifically, it concerns glufosinate ammonium-tolerant soybean transformation event A2704-12. The summary includes general information about the applicant, scope of the application, product description, proposed uses, packaging and labeling. It also summarizes information about the recipient plant such as taxonomy, reproduction, survivability, dissemination and geographical distribution. The intent is import and processing, not cultivation, of this GM soybean within the EU.
Este documento describe diferentes herramientas y simuladores virtuales que pueden usarse para apoyar la educación, incluyendo Skooool Educar que ofrece simuladores interactivos, Open Sim que permite crear mundos virtuales compatibles con Second Life, y GenMagic que permite crear aplicaciones multimedia dinámicas para integrar en mundos virtuales. Estas herramientas aprovechan las TIC para innovar en la educación y facilitar el aprendizaje y la enseñanza de manera virtual.
This document discusses a real estate notification service called Realtor Notify that allows realtors to send property listing details, photos, and videos directly to clients' mobile devices through text messaging. It promotes using a mobile business card to connect with more clients today compared to a paper business card yesterday. It provides instructions for realtors to set up keyword channels to receive property listing notifications by texting short codes.
This document contains a collection of poems written by Jemima Rivas. The poems cover a variety of themes including childhood memories, relationships, faith, and overcoming challenges. They are written in a simple, conversational style with short lines and repetitive phrases.
Autobiography Of My Mother
Descriptive Essay About My Mother
Characteristics Of My Mother
My Mother
My Life Of Mother : The Story Of My Mother
Narrative Essay About My Mom
Mother Essay : My Mother
The Relationship I Have With My Mother Essay
Descriptive Essay About My Mother
Profile of My Mother
My Mother Essay
A Day in the Life of My Mother
My Reflection On My Mother Essay
My Philosophy Of My Mother
Descriptive Essay About My Mother
My Mom: Personal Essay: My Mother
My Mother And My Childhood
My Most Important Mentors In My Life : My Mother
This document contains three short stories. The first story describes a woman who uses drugs and alcohol to escape her memories and ancestry by engaging in casual relationships with multiple men on weekends. She has since stopped this behavior and now works to heal from her ancestral trauma. The second story is about a ghostly encounter the author had as a child at a cabin being built by his family, where he heard a whisper and felt a hand on his shoulder telling him to go with his family into town. The third story is a disturbing account of a dream where the narrator imagines stabbing a man in a park and the man's partner next to them starts giggling uncontrollably in their sleep.
This document discusses elements of literature including emotional, intellectual, and humanistic appeal. It provides examples of poems that demonstrate these different appeals and can have therapeutic value by allowing readers to process emotions. Literature is also classified as either escape literature meant for entertainment or interpretative literature that aims to broaden awareness. Literature can be used for moralizing to teach values, propaganda, or psychological insight. In conclusion, six examples of therapeutic poems are provided that address themes like grief, life lessons, and gratitude.
Elements of literature & the combined artsmeliechole
This document discusses elements of literature including emotional, intellectual, and humanistic appeal. It provides examples of poems that demonstrate these different appeals and can have therapeutic value by allowing readers to process emotions. Literature is also classified as either escape literature meant for entertainment or interpretative literature that aims to broaden awareness. Literature can be used for moralizing to teach values, propaganda, or psychological insight. In conclusion, six examples of therapeutic poems are provided that address themes like grief, life lessons, and gratitude.
The document is a letter from children to their parents thanking them for everything they have done. It expresses gratitude for their lessons, confidence boosting, understanding, fairness, and love. It includes an apology for past selfish behavior and a poem expressing how parents will always be there to support their children through both good and bad times. The letter wishes the parents a happy anniversary with love from the children.
This document contains a collection of poems dedicated to or about mothers, as well as explanations written by Iliana Tineo about the relationships between the poems and her own mother. It includes original poems written by Iliana praising her mother's strength, caring nature, and the lessons she has provided. The poems cover themes of a mother's devotion to her children through difficult times, the bond between a mother and child, and a mother's role in raising and teaching her kids.
The document contains four classical poems about mothers written by different authors. Each poem expresses appreciation and gratitude for the mother's love, guidance and influence. The poems highlight the sacrifices mothers make, teaching life lessons, being a source of comfort and strength, and serving as a role model and hero. The tone is positive and celebrates the important role of mothers.
Gloria is a solo mother of five children who struggles to provide for her family after her husband Roberto becomes an alcoholic. She takes on various odd jobs to support the children. One day after Roberto hits her, Gloria kicks him out of the house. Years later, with encouragement from her children, Gloria decides to take her first solo trip abroad, feeling both excited and fearful about the unknown journey ahead of her.
This document is the introduction and table of contents for a book of poems titled "The Rule of Four" by Cyrus A. Diaz. It was self-published in August 2012 and contains 120 poems. The introduction discusses the author's love of writing poetry and finding inspiration from people and experiences in his life. It frames poetry as his passion and way to convey messages to the world. The table of contents then lists all 120 poems by title that are included in the book.
This poem describes fathers as superheroes who protect and care for their children with strength, courage, and unconditional love. It depicts the many roles fathers play in their children's lives from being a guiding light when scared, to playing and creating fun memories, to working hard to provide for their families. The poem celebrates fathers for brightening their children's lives through their dedication, support, and deep enduring love that helps their children grow.
This document contains several poems written by the author. It begins with a dedication poem to the author's mother thanking her for her support. It then includes several original poems by the author exploring themes of overcoming challenges and finding inner strength. It provides explanations for the inspiration behind each poem. It also includes two famous poems:"The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe and "As One Who Having Wandered All Night" by Robert Louis Stevenson. In closing, it shares a bonus poem written by the author's mother.
A tribute to my mother, and all mothers who give selflessly to their children. We all must die sometime. Her graditude of having lived stays with me as a constant reminder that this world is GOOD and in our own hearts, we make our own destiny
This document contains a collection of poems written by Mone' Hawkins dedicated to her family. It includes an introductory poem addressed to her mom, dad, and siblings thanking them. It then shares poems written by other authors on various topics like nature, family, and loss. Mone' concludes with several of her own poems touching on themes of family, relationships, and dedication to loved ones, along with a bibliography and final thank you note to her family.
These poems explore themes of love, longing, passion and loss. Many describe intense romantic feelings for a lover, from longing to be together to the pain of a breakup. One poem reflects on watching past loves find new partners while feeling lonely. The styles range from heartfelt declarations of love to more melancholy reflections on lost love and memories.
Similar to Through the Eyes of a Child 2013 published (15)
3. In memory of BA Rudolph,
who taught me the value (and fun) of laughing at myself
and Fred Rogers for allowing me to be
part of his neighborhood
4. Dedication
This book is dedicated to Teresa Heinz and Marge Petruska
for their incredible dedication and advocacy on behalf of
children in Pennsylvania and across America
Vance Hecimovich for his courage
Alisa Giannamore for reminding me every day
about the importance of caring
and Eve and the Summerettes
5. Why this book?
In a world where men are not accustomed to sharing their feelings
or exposing their souls, my goal has always been to open my heart
and demonstrate that not all men are shy, closed off or cowards.
It has had its risks, but the rewards far outweigh the danger.
Courage is not defined solely by the words we write, but rather
our willingness to share, discuss and dissect them.
In my lifetime, I have sought and continue to seek ways to
effectively communicate to those who touched my heart in
unimaginable ways.
Through the Eyes of a Child is a collection of poems based on
discussions with adults about their children, and sometimes with
children about their mothers or fathers. It is supplemented with
a piece from me to those who have parented me at one point or
another in my life, as well as to those who have no children of their
own but who have taken a community under their wing.
It is one man’s way of honoring their innermost thoughts, fears and
triumphs along with reminding them how their love has helped
shape the community around them. There are no secret meanings
buried in the stories told or the words used.
In each case, every poem opens the kimono a little wider. It exposes
the inner soul of an author willing to open up for friends, family,
colleagues and others to understand that one door slammed should
never be the end, rather, the beginning to another door opening.
Throughout our lives, each of us has found ourselves clinging
to words, truths, dreams and fairytales. We fight our fears, our
suspicions and our lonely hearts. In the end, the one thing that is
constant are the words and thoughts shared – those spoken and
those discussed and shared.
Those memories are seared in our hearts and become part of the
fabric of who we are – of who I am.
Jeffrey Robert Lewis
(jeffreyrobertlewis@gmail.com)
7. Through Jack's Eyes
A giant walks into my room and his booming voice echoes
against all four walls
He slowly picks me up
Gives me a hug – the kind you remember and long for the rest
of your life
His hands are strong
While he gives me a morning kiss he slowly, methodically, begins
the sniff dance
We both know what this is really about – he wants to know –
“did I poop?”
But then I wait for the truly heavenly part: will he offer me
a back scratchie?
I grew up playing with my dad – I never grew tired of simply being
with him
We played the game of strength
He pretended to fall down when I pushed him
It was never about the game
For me, I just devoured my time with my dad r
8. My father is an extraordinary person, a very gentle individual where
love and life are intertwined and embody his spirit every day
He is defined by who he is – not who others want him to be
His strength is in his soul, his heart, every day
He learned that from his dad – and I am learning from him
every day
When he married my mom, love was truly redefined
When I am in mom’s arms and my father approaches, a quiet
begins to surround the room
It’s as if the world truly stops
And, it really does
My mom makes my dad’s heart melt
And when he looks at her – I know he is melting inside, too
My dad is not afraid
He embraces life, its challenges and its enormity
It is that unique, distinguishing part of a person’s soul that wraps
around you like a warm, comfortable blanket of love
I go to sleep every night knowing there is an angel in my life
He is my dad
I am learning from him that in life, sometimes love is not defined
by words,
But a look,
The warmth of a smile,
A simple touch,
Or a sniff
9. `Pappy D with Love, Chase and Max
Fathers and daughters have a very special bond
They go through life caring for their little girls with forever hugs
Smiles that sear your heart
And limitless love for their grandchildren
Pappy D just loved our mom
He never judged her, never questioned her decisions –
he just loved her
And mom just loves us in the same way
Our Pappy D was a real American
An artist with a welding torch
A dedicated man to his community and
A simply amazing grandfather r
10. His words constantly spoke kindness
“Now remember, you treat others as you want to be treated, but
they’re more than just words. Remember that.”
His acts always demonstrated a greater love of community
There was nothing selfish about him
Pappy D was the personification of old-fashioned honesty
The kind that politicians used to exude
When he spoke it was always from his heart
His community was part of his larger family
He gave because he wanted to – never out of obligation
A simple man with a smile that filled a room
A heart full of incredible patience and endless forgiveness
And his yes always told us a story of love
With Pappy D, it was not about the words he said; it was that very
special hug
The kind where you think he is squeezing everything out of you
Until you realized how much you ached for one more
Our mom is the personification of Pappy D
He instilled in her the qualities that made him so special – and her
so singularly special to us
Every day, we inhale every possible moment of our time with
Pappy D
And then exhale, and start again
Pappy D taught us that a life that gives to others goes on forever
And for us, our mom is forever
11. Standing in Line
My dad travels, endlessly
Every day it’s a new zip code – every night a different hotel bed
What sounded like fun, really seems like its own prison cell on wheels
We talk every day and sometimes video conference
I love technology, but I love my dad more
There are days my dad is simply a memory
My dad has a suitcase that travels with him everywhere
It’s tattered, worn, bruised. I worry someday my dad will be that suitcase
He arrives home with a smile
We read books together
For me the wheels on the bus never go round and round enough
And saying goodnight to the moon is never adequate r
12. He falls asleep reading to me
I kiss him and hug him like there is no tomorrow
Because I know tomorrow means another airplane, another hotel,
another phone call
Someday, I hope I can move up from the back of the line
13. To Mom with Love, Vance
I awaken every day to a smile that lights up my life and a voice
That sings in my heart
She has been my inspiration through moments of darkness,
My warmth when the dark side of a migraine invaded my
very being
She read me stories of a world I never thought possible; or a
freedom from fear I never thought I could attain
I live in a world where
Smoke is everywhere: thick, black and blinding
There are many days when I struggle
to find my way
Choking back the tears that sting my eyes
That sear my soul, forever r
14. I live in a world where
Darkness surrounds me and yet I am more determined than ever
to find the light
Exhausted, frustrated saddened at times, but always determined
I will not back down – I will never give up
My mom instilled in me the belief that I can; that I will beat my
disability
As early as the third grade I remember the thick smoke, the tireless
nights to understand, the desire to just be
The smoke made everything harder to navigate and nearly
impossible to find my way out
It surrounded me and sought to embrace my very being
It challenged my brain to work harder to see through it, and
sometimes it was so thick I thought it would never clear
Living with a learning disability is like fighting your way through
a fire
Every day is a battle
Every day is a fight against the smoke and its darkness in search of
the light
A learning disability never ends; it is ongoing throughout your life
And with my mom in my corner, I have the best anyone could ever
hope for
My mom will always be the wheels on my fire truck
15. Lionheart
He is a quiet, gentle person
A man who built a world around me to protect, educate and care
for me
His strength is never obvious
He is shy and never truly relaxed
This father silently struggles with the constant fear of flying
That fear envelopes his entire persona, but he never lets it stop his
family from enjoying the life he cannot
I saw the world because of him
Memories tucked away in my heart
His gentleness became my exhilarating energy
The bones of my thoughts often reflect the wisdom I gained from
the scraps of his words
He taught me to be an artist, to create beauty through words r
16. I recognize my own weaknesses
And look at life’s uncertainties without anxiety or apprehension
I am filled with endless determination
With the strength of every man’s quiet wisdom
He is a Lionheart
Untouched by fear of sharing
From opening his heart and exposing his own humanity
He walks alongside me every day
Nestled away as a reminder of who I am and why
17. The Unspoken Words of a Child:
To my Auntie Mindela
Every day I imagine waking up to your endless smile,
An incredible hug
As you breathe life into my bones and love into my heart
I know I will soar because you believe in me
You will never know how much you enriched my life
Memories that will last forever
I hold my breath hoping you are not a dream
And I blink and you’re still there
You became my escape without ever knowing it and today you still
protect me from the walls crashing around me
My childhood was filled with adventure
From understanding the importance of art, the proper way to
scramble an egg or hold a golf club r
18. You gave me the power to dream, to create, and ultimately, ascend
way beyond myself
Most important, you believed in me – and taught me the power of
one
You allowed me to be me
Never judging me – always encouraging
There has to be someone like you in every kid’s corner – you have
always been in mine
You gave from your heart and listened intently
I feel safe when you are near me
And, every day I worry, “Will you still be here tomorrow?”
19. To Lucy with Love, Ryan
My mother is a true treasure
A gift of love, understanding and human vulnerability
Words often don’t describe her incredible beauty – she has the soul
of an angel, the heart of a lion and her presence fills every void
She is inspirational
Encourages me and
Wraps me in endless love, a memory that will never end.
Lucy never judged me;
She pushed me with a gentle hand, guided me like an artist, and
talked to me as a tutor, teacher, friend and parent
Illness never deterred her
She used it to strengthen her resolve, teaching me the importance
of optimism and hope
To conquer fear by facing it – no matter how horrible
Her strength fueled my passion for life and love r
20. She taught me that words can nourish your soul
That prayer can embrace your very being
You must look at the world through the eyes of a mother
To truly understand life, love, patience and forgiveness
I grew up never wanting, never needing, never…anything
Lucy gave me something you cannot measure: unimaginable love
Endless, boundless – every day
While I owe her my success – I also owe her my life
She is the spirit inside me
Mom, I will love you forever
21. My Dad Through a Screen Shot,
Love Michael
I grew up in a world of fantasy, imagination and incredible love
My father is an artist with words
He taught us that we had the tools to build, create and imagine
The outdoors became more than a playground; it was a time when
my father was with us, I lived for that small part of the day – that
moment when we were together
And that fantasy world that we created together; our most involved
time together
Grant always engaged my imagination
We built a fantasy world together that was better than any video
game or television show
We played endless games from roughhousing to running outside to
creating with blocks and Legos
Even pillows became a means of constructing something larger
than life r
22. My father always encouraged me to taste the words of others
And he read to me so I could hear the words of great authors
These words could come to life listening to him explain how and
why
His words painted a picture I would always remember
The way he read, the words he used, the expressions on his face or
the inflections in his voice brought the story to life
The gruff way he read in Hagrid’s tongue: I would close my eyes
and see this giant of a man, with a head of hair more shocking than
Chaka Khan, and then feel the gentleness of his oversized hands, all
through my father’s voice
We’d sit on the couch with my sister; he’d calm us down and pick
up from where we’d left off the previous night
Those nights on that couch in my parents’ bedroom were the times
when he, my sister and I were closest and in greatest harmony with
each other
I remember walking with him into the woods behind our first
home and we find an old rope swing
It’s fall: the ground is an autumnal carpet crunching beneath our
feet as he tests the rope
It holds, so he swings me
To this day, I remember the sun leaking between the bare tree
branches.
This was the first time I really remember feeling alive
I grew up listening to the sound of my father creating music; he was
a virtuoso on a computer keyboard
At night, he would work in my room where I would listen to his
fingers tap, tap, tapping on the keyboard
The rain knocking on the window desperate to be noticed
Me, caught somewhere between conscious and unconscious, enjoy-
ing the sound of his fingers composing another great score in the
form of a speech
Me, simply enjoying having my dad with me
My dad is the man I want to be, and at the same time, I want to be
even more
He gave me that gift of always wanting more
He breathes life into me with a hug and I simply want more
His strength fueled my passion for life and love
23. In my lifetime, I have sought and continue to seek ways to effectively
communicate to those who touched my heart in unimaginable ways.
For me, I have never wanted life to stand still like a waltz frozen
in time. I hope these words unthaw a part of you.
Jeffrey Robert Lewis
24. 100% of the proceeds from this
book will be donated to the
Navy Seal Foundation
O T I S P R E S S