< Cheri_Herald's Poetry Web-Log>
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Name: Cheri Herald
Gender: Female
Interests: Poetry, gardening, cooking, photography, riding, and Bible study
Expertise: Middle School ESE teacher of Language Arts and Learning Strategies
Occupation: Education
Email: email me
Website: visit my website
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I read
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postige
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Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
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Sunday, October 18, 2009
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Skeptics, be gone! Many weekends, we like to drive to places we’ve not explored. Florida is home to diverse species, and in addition, people keep some really unusual animals. Several years ago, we were wandering the back roads up around Micanopy; we happened upon an accident and were forced to reroute. Suddenly, we were in Africa! Waterbuck , gemsbok, and zebras grazed behind a high fence mostly hidden by vegetation. We didn’t have the camera, and by the time we found our way home we weren‘t sure exactly where we‘d been.. We couldn’t figure out why they were there. Was it some wealthy person just keeping exotic pets? Could they be rehabilitating, or breeding, attraction or zoo animals? Hopefully, it was not one of those pay-to-hunt properties. People we told were incredulous and a bit skeptical; they wondered if we were sure of what we’d seen. Recently, we found our way back. In a town near Gainesville, called Flemington, we were again treated to the exotic presence of animals that left me breathless. Although huge, it did look like a private property-- and there was a house or barn. I braved chigger bites (and imagined snakes) to wiggle through underbrush and Spanish moss to get a better look (the neighbors-across-the-street’s very large dogs didn’t appreciate my ninja tactics) but it was worth it--and I had my camera. 
very real waterbuck
gemsbok
house--or barn?
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Saturday, October 10, 2009
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Bill Hutchinson, 1962-2009 
For a Friend Taken Too Soon Kaleidoscoping memories
a look, a word
a phrase
like bits of broken glass
crazed
rolling, churning
swirling when I close my eyes.
Sleep eludes, so
I choose to indulge the patterns
tumble the shards
to smoother bits of us--
rainbow patterns
cartwheeling into eternity.
10/10/09 Cheri Neuman Herald
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Sunday, September 27, 2009
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Some Lessons Come With ThornsA former troubled student once gave me a rose. To my surprise it rooted in the vase, and I still have the plant. 
Jessie’s Rose
The single stem you gave me
rooted--grew to bush and bloomed.
Then, in return
I gifted back the first cream blossom
pale as you--
pink heart peeking from within.
To this day, each fragile flower
brings your face to mind.
I wonder how you are
and what’s become.
Actions live beyond their time
for good or ill;
some lessons come with thorns;
I pray you’ve rooted well.
9/27/2009 Cheri Neuman Herald
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Saturday, September 12, 2009
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NostalgiaI happened across an old episode of the children's show, Mr. Roger's Neighborhhod, on television this morning; one thought led to another: Lady Aberlin Denied When I grew up
I wanted to be Lady Aberlin
from the land of make-believe
soft-spoken, reserved, ever-so-nice
always-so-kind But ladies need backing
Strength is required to slay dragons
dig moats--protect the castle In my world
of not-so-make-believe
knights were too busy
polishing their armor, admiring
their reflections I learned a bit
of the dragon’s fire
how to wield my own sword
draw a quick bow Lady Aberlin calloused
behind armor forged of necessity
but chafed at the steel I kept waiting
for that white horse
whose rider would arrive
Lady Aberlin would don proper silk
and soften her stride But crusades are long
the best knights
always seemed to be absent
imprisoned, or otherwise occupied I no longer wait
at the tower window
for one good knight to set Aberlin free
I’ve learned to ride--securely astride--
bought my own horse
But, ah, there are nights
when the wine is sweet and the moon is full
that I sit by my weathered window
and a wish still rises
to a distant star 9/12/2009 Cheri Neuman Herald
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Monday, August 17, 2009
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First Day of School
Let the games begin!
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