From the Fire

From the fire,

I emerge,

molten and malleable.

Your breath gives me shape and form.

I grow,

shift and change

as you spin me round and round.

Stretching toward the light,

higher still

to glory,

and change,

to fill the world with beauty and purpose.

But just like gravity,

you keep me grounded,

feet firmly planted

while I reach for the stars.

Fire, Breath, Light, Gravity.

You give me life and meaning.

This is a poem I wrote at a writing retreat at Crystal Bridges American Museum of Art. They currently have a Chihuly exhibit and it inspired me to write this when I read the brochure that said: “Chihuly sees glass art as an art form of fire, breath, light and gravity.” I know that I am usually reflecting on my teaching and other educational work here…but I felt I wanted this to be out in the world. And writing is educational, even when you are a science teacher.