Ethics, Values, & Sustainability
Environmental Strategy & Sustainability
Systems Thinking & Sustainable Businesses
Last Updated 01/14/2006
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GROUP 6
Let me count the ways
An ethereal mist
shelters our boat
from the startling pink rays
of an Ozark sunrise.
The fish are not biting
and I am glad for the calm.
A gruff voice
once troubling
melts me
with its discovered tenderness.
His candy stash
visited by granddaughter fingers
is magically replenished
with quite consideration
that I notice.
Long journeys are made
to share these moments.
Long stories at dinnertime
keep me rapt for hours.
My dishwater hands
suggest I have worked
but what I notice
is how I’ve laughed.
Leah Hart
Old and wise part one
I just can’t think of anybody
That I ever meant that much to
That was all that much older than me.
So I guess I’ll go with my high school drama teacher
Who wasn’t that old at all, but was very enthusiastic
And let us do whatever we wanted, as long as the plays were good.
He was, in fact, so young that he listened to the same music as us
And played the same card games and such. I think I decided in those years
That even if my real relatives didn’t care, I still had other people.
His wisdom was very simple, only enjoy yourself and be nice; be generous when you can
And sometimes when you can’t. I doubt he had many hopes for me, because I wasn’t that
Great of an actress anyway. But he did say once that I didn’t have to be an actress to be
Somebody.
Which is true.
Sarah Edwards
Old and Wise parts two and three
It seems to me, the times I’ve actually seen my grandparents
That by the time someone is that old
That they should have something to talk about
Maybe even a “Oh, your shirt reminds me of a shirt I wore to a movie once,”
Or “When I lived in Michigan, we didn’t have this type of tree.”
But either they’re dull
Or too alzheimer’s-ic to tell who I am
Or totally bored with still being alive
Or most likely too set in their narrow Catholic ways
To forgive my mom for her narrow not-Catholic ways
And I guess all I learned from them is that kids do care whether or not they get invited
Along once in awhile, and even if your kid spits on your God
She’s still your kid.
Sarah Edwards
Through a grandfather’s eyes:
The future is so promising for this child
I strive to protect him from all the pain –
The pain that defined my life growing up:
The Great Depression, World War II – tough times.
I hope he inherits all of my strength,
Avoids all my weaknesses and is a better man than I.
He can be anything –
Endless possibilities, bounded only –
By my inabilities to fully encourage him.
I pray for him to be happy above all,
Whatever he does.
I hope he finds the love I have found
And that he takes advantage of the love all around him.
I want him to know that,
Though he could disappoint me,
He will never lose my love and support.
Tim Puchter
Grandpa’s Eyes
She laughs
and dances
and eats
with vigor.
Her song
joins in
with the family
he has watched grow.
She laughs
and dances
with joy
and he swells with pride
for his youngest boy.
She laughs . . .
Leah Hart
Grandma
Though it has been a long, long time
And I was very young
As my memories of childhood slowly fade
There are some that never change
You inspired me even then
It was an admiration I could not comprehend
Yet I look back now
It all seems so clear
You are everything I want to be
You have influenced everything I have become
And so I want to thank you
For all the memories, as clear as day
For guidance throughout my life
For being the role model every child needs
For everything you have done for me
Thank you Grandma
Lisa Ashenbrenner
Grandma looks into my eyes kindly,
doctor, lawyer, scientist are not what she expects of me,
She expects only a nice, healthy and happy man…
And yet I don’t know what I have become.
Owen Li
This is the first time I have seen him in over two years
I can’t believe he is already all grown up
He still hasn’t lost his smart-ass remarks though
I am glad to hear that he loves his college
He asked me to go out with him for a drink
So we walk over to my favorite bar near my house
Beer seems to taste exceptionally good today
“Thank you, it’s always been my dream to have a drink with my grandchildren”
I said to him
Afterwards, I took him to the family grave where all of our ancestors are buried
I have no idea where he will end up
But he should never forget about his roots
Ryu Suzuki
