Lost Acres

Early life on small farms taught the author to value solving problems. From her college-educated parents she learned to value education.Discovering and helping then became central to her teaching experiences. She has taught writing, reading, creative writing, drama, and orchestra to junior high school, high school, and community college students. She has taught private string lessons to students from the age of 1 1/2 to 85. She develops yearly string concerts with varying themes such as " In Dreams," "Mostly Movies," and "Of Wings and Strings."Teaching community college students who were studying the "trades," Helen came to understand that, like them, she is a maker-a "poem maker."Erasing backward I disappear inside memory-fall and spill and splinter into broken bits-no gathered meaning. I do not want to think of now-these later times when I see only things I cannot do. Sometimes remembering is not enough. Then I hate you-child-that you do not hold me dear to climb from bed-past fear-past my meager living here. I want to stay-lay myself along the wind that holds up branches. Rest on the sunsetclouds-their long bright ribbons singing the sky alive. I want to rise up as tall and straight as great trees. Search upward-looking past the sky.excerpt from Lament for the Leaving