Lessons on Living: Poems that help guide us through life Ms. Shields Monday, April 29, 13 Author’s Note Dear Reader, One of my favorite books is Lessons on Dying by Ernest J. Gaines. However, I felt it was living that needed to be addressed. I selected the theme: Lessons on Living, because I am an educator. As educators, I feel it is our duty (and privilege) to help our students become productive adults. What do I mean by lessons on living? I’m so glad that you asked. I mean simple lessons people in general need to know to make life easier to process as well as succeed in. The poems I chose: “If” by Rudyard Kipling, “Oh the Places You Will Go” by Dr. Seuss, “Invictus” by William Earnest, “Listen to the Mustn’ts” by Shel Silverstein and “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes to illustrate my theme. All five of these poems address important topics: patience, composure, independence, self-sufficiency, self-encouragement, and being undeterred by life’s struggles. Each of these authors beautifully explains why these things are important in living and how mastery of these skills can improve one’s living. I also wrote five poems to illustrate other lessons on living that I believe are important: “Tempered Steel” and “Falling Up” discuss growing from struggles and mistakes, “Savings Account” discusses prioritizing, “Don’t Look for the Easy Answers” encourage students to be life learners, and “Life Lessons” is a simple illustration that in life there is always something to learn or some way to grow. I sincerely hope that the readers of this anthology gain new insights on life and can take away something that will help them to grow as an individual. It is my goal to make the reader think about the way they live differently, strive for constant improvement and self-discovery. I also help it comforts its readers to know failures, mistakes and struggles happen to us all, but it is always an opportunity for triumph. Most importantly, I hope you figure out lessons of your own and carry them out for your benefit and the benefit of those around you. Humbly Yours, Ms. S. Shields Monday, April 29, 13 This anthology is dedicated to the following: to my sixth grade English teacher who was the first to really fostered my skills as a writer and encouraged me to use my words. And to my former, present and future students, it is my goal that you learn from me something that helps you throughout life. Ms. Shields Monday, April 29, 13 Table of Contents First Half: Famous Poets “If” Rudyard Kipling 5 “Oh the Places You Will Go” Dr. Seuss 6 “Invictus” William Earnest 7 “Listen to the Mustn’ts” Shel Silverstein 8 “Mother to Son” Langston Hughes 9 Second Half: Original Works “Tempered Steel” 11 “Falling Up” 12 “Savings Account” 13 “Don’t Look for the Easy Answers” 14 “Life Lessons” 15 Monday, April 29, 13 If by Rudyard Kipling If you can keep your head when all about you    If you can make one heap of all your winnings     Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,        And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt And lose, and start again at your beginnings you,     And never breathe a word about your loss;     But make allowance for their doubting too;    If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,     To serve your turn long after they are gone,        Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,     Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’     And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,    If you can dream—and not make dreams your     Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common master;    touch,     If you can think—and not make thoughts your If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, aim;        If all men count with you, but none too If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster much;     And treat those two impostors just the same;   If you can fill the unforgiving minute If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken     With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,        Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,    Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,     And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!     And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools: Monday, April 29, 13 Oh the Places you will Go! by Dr. Seuss You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go. Monday, April 29, 13 Invictus by William Earnest Out of the night that covers me,       Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be       For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance       I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance       My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears       Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years       Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate,       How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate,       I am the captain of my soul. Monday, April 29, 13 Listen to the Mustn’ts by Shel Silverstein Listen to Mustn'ts, child, listen to the Don'ts. Listen to the Shouldn'ts, the Impossibles, the Won'ts. Listen to the Never Haves, then listen close to me.       Anything can happen, child, Anything can be. Monday, April 29, 13 Mother to Son by Langston Hug hes Well, son, I’ll tell you: Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor— Bare. But all the time I’se been a-climbin’ on, And reachin’ landin’s, And turnin’ corners, And sometimes goin’ in the dark Where there ain’t been no light. So boy, don’t you turn back. Don’t you set down on the steps ’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard. Don’t you fall now— For I’se still goin’, honey, I’se still climbin’, And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. Monday, April 29, 13 Original Works By Ms. Shields Monday, April 29, 13