Swagger

Walking through the hallways this morning I was noticing how my students have grown since the beginning of the year. Middle school students are in constant flux, always changing. Seventh grade boys remind me of this poem:

Swagger

Swagger
thinks he's better,
turns his cap toward the back,
curls his lip, refuses to skip
or act like a kid.
Ever.
He's self-assured when he walks in,
full of nerve with a hint of sin,
with one hand in his pocket,
and shoulders square,
and if you don't like it, he doesn't care.
Somewhere between a strut and a stroll,
he's on a roll, his step in time
to a silent beat that says, "Bring it on,"
'cause he's all that
from his crown to his feet.

~Sara Holbrook

The poet says, "In a world of action and reaction, it seems as if words are an endangered species. More than ever we must, with relentless defiance continue to nurture our words, respect them as individuals, and handle them with care."