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Several days ago I came across something from long in my past. I was so surprised, and decided to share the poem. This post is for Mrs. Adler, my HS Senior year English Teacher. She wrote this poem, and gave all of us a copy. Remember, this is over 50 yrs ago.
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A Christmas Blessing
May the gift of happiness be yours,
happiness from without and from within.
Let friendship fall upon you and warm your heart
until it burns as with a great fire,
cheering you, your dear ones--------
and a stranger.
Gladness shine from you like a great candle,
welcoming a forlorn wanderer to come in out of the storm.
May gentle rains fall upon you, washing your spirit,
leaving a shining pool, refreshing your soul-star.
Fruits of the earth be yours,
Fruits from the great, beautiful earth,
that you may share, to those
you meet along the pathway.
Earth be cool when you lie on it,
weary at the end of a hot summer day,
and rest gently over you when you lie under it, so gently
that your soul may rise quickly on it's way to God.
And now, may the good lord bless you - - -and bless your abundantly.
Mrs. Adler
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She did not even sign this. I know because I noted it on the poem. This is from Christmas 1969, Hillsboro Senior High School. It really strikes me that I have my copy still, and, that I found it just this week. It was meant to be.
Let me tell you a little about Mrs. Adlar, an unforgettable person in my life...after only 9 months in her classroom. She had nearly a lifetime of teaching behind her when my class was lucky to get into her classroom. She was a tough old bird, she'd been around the block, teaching college bound seniors. She told us the truth, and some of it scared us. She expected our best work, perfect work all the time. We were challenged. She was unforgettable!
I remember the Big Thing that happened during Spring Break 1970. 5 boys, members of our class, went on a spring break trip to a parents' cabin in the San Juan Islands, of Washington State. No one will ever know what exactly happened to them. They took 2 small boats out, into the waters of the Pacific. They never came back.
The School District ordered the staff to not talk about it. Mrs. Adler knew that we, seniors, needed to have counsel and help to understand this terrible incident. She talked to us the entire hour in the classroom. Most of us had never experienced death before. I remember that day, and that hour with her. She was an extremely brave, valiant, courageous and an extraordinary teacher. My hat is off to you, Mrs. Adler.
