Friday Poem

Environmental & Science Education, Poetry, Art & Environment 

Ed Hessler

Good morning from the Center for Global Environmental Education (CGEE), Hamline University, Saint Paul on October 1, 2021,  the 274th day of the year (6576 hours or 75.07% of this year).

Sunrise is at 7:11 am and sunset is at 6:52 pm giving a day length of 11h 41m 23s.

Quote. “The world is never the same after a good poem has been shared as a beautiful poem can change the shape of our understanding of each other and our society.” Kevin Lindsey, CEO, Minnesota Humanities Center. (statement Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Appoint Gwen Nell Westerman as Minnesota Poet Laureate September 9, 2022)

Foodimentary announces that today is National Pumpkin Spice day and gives us five facts about pumpkins and today's food history. Peanut farmer and U. S. President James Earl Carter was born on this day in 1924.

Today's poem is by Gwen Nell Westerman, the new Minnesota poet laureate and the first Native American to be named to this position.

The poem is from her first book of poems, Follow the Blackbirds. It is titled "School Days" and you must scroll down to read it (There are two other poems preceding it.).  Westerman is also a ribbon artist and in this 3m 42s video she talks about her experience as a Native American Artist-in-Residence at the Minnesota Historical Society.