Story Institute Imagine Your Stories Again…

If you are a writer, storyteller, or poet, you know how difficult it is to create words with meaning on the fly and under pressure…we try to write one poem every week during the summer.

Kindergarten starts today.
I am ready.
New people and places.
Don’t need my teddy.
Enjoy learning new things.
Remember my lunch please.
Grab your backpack and supplies.
And some band aids for my skinned knees.
Reading and writing will be fun.
Then at recess, we can run and jump.
Earn good grades and stay out of trouble.
No worries, I’m growing up.
By: John E. Murray, III

Early Mornings Torment me so
Why my kids do this to me I do not know
The begging the screaming - how could this be?
Oh wait that’s not the kids…its me.
“Cherish these times, they grow so fast”
Really, than why do I feel that this just lasts and lasts
So now I’ll return to my life of not so [...]

Up, up, and away from
The newly formed layers of concrete
Into the cushy pillows of little sleep.
Up, up, and away from
The familiar phases of dark and light
Into the soft glows of the pulsing spark.
Up, up, and away from
The toys of coming technology
Into the papers tending toward history.
Up, up, and away from
Work, friends, and family
Into the solitude [...]

Small ripples
Tiny tingling
Growing joy
Increasing anticiption…
Holding, hoping, heading
Gaining momentum…
Ah,
To be home again…
To be home again…
By: John E. Murray, III

Reaching for rest,
Stretching for sanity,
Urging for utopia.
Where to go…
What to do…
How to Feel…
Time to think…
Space to settle…
Love to lead us
Home again.
By: John E. Murray, III

We don’t want to leave,
We just need to go home…
We hope you understand the brevity of our stay,
It is always too short…
We hope that you will visit us,
And, stay longer next time…
We don’t want to leave,
We just need to go home…
We hope you will visit us via voice or video
Over the next few months…
We hope [...]

I woke up early…too early…
Did I sleep OK?
I forget…
Is it naptime?
I wanted snacks and more cereal…more cereal…
Did we eat breakfast?
I forget…
Is it naptime?
I didn’t eat my lunch…yucky lunch…
Did we have food?
I forget…
Is it naptime?
I want to go swimming…too hot…
Do we have a pool?
I forget…
Is it naptime?
I want ice cream for dinner…chocolate ice cream…
Did we buy [...]

What are we talking about?
It is too early to rise…
What are we talking about?
I am tired, please call again later…
What are we talking about?
OK, I am up…
What are we talking about?
Breakfast, snacks, and television, too much all at once…
What are we talking about?
You need a snack…I need some sleep…
What are we talking about?
I need some [...]

What time does it have to be
For you to be too late?
What is late anywho?
I was late again for time
I didn’t even know I had…
I was late again for a time
I didn’t even know existed.
Is it too late to go back again?
How far back do you have to go?
Why do you have to go?
Besides, it [...]

Where have you gone
My pleasant and pleasurable song?
Where have you moved during the afternoon of my youth,
When you settled in to calm and soothe?
Your anticipated days approached too slowly
As our bodies continued growing..
Now, your days are merely fewer for we who are older
But ,each remind us of imagination’s true holder…
The bright faces,
The bathroom races,
The small [...]