Take Note
rules for the classroom of living
then:
in november 1972,
as a very young, very exasperated teacher
i bark at the unruly boys
who comprise my language arts class—
stop your noise right now.
get out a piece of paper
and write down the rules
of this classroom.
1. ban a pipcol
2. pal of tin skin
writes one young man.
i decode
his dyslexic encoding,
1. bring a pencil
2. pay attention
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now:
in november 2025,
no longer in a classroom,
no longer as young as i once was,
i gather with friends
for lunch on a crisp wednesday
to connect,
to celebrate.
we give voice,
each of us,
one, then another,
over and again,
collectively,
to being here
to being now,
ban a pipcol
pal of tin skin
—dotty seiter
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3 x 3″; watercolor and ink on paper
mood-mini
2026
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Notes about poem and art:
• “rules” is a tender reflection on the when and where of lessons that pop up repeatedly in the unfolding of my life, often in different clothing.
• The Smallest Agreement is another mood-mini inspired by Cynthia Hauk, honoring the pull I feel to reduce my pace, narrow my focus, and drop anchor. This piece began with washes of watercolor paint, followed by a few random wandering lines along which I wrote a short journal entry. I was well able to reduce my pace, narrow my focus, and drop anchor, but I’m not sure what word I might assign to identify the mood behind this piece.
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8 responses to “Take Note”
Carol, I suspect every painting is in some way the outer expression of the inner life of the painter and so reflects what might be called the painter’s “mood,” but I also suspect it matters not whether that mood is identified and/or named!
Your here and now monthly Zoom call with three high school friends in four different time zones sounds great and glorious!
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MaryAnn, I’m smiling at your delight in this poem. Isn’t it funny that ban a pipcol and pal of tin skin have stuck in my mind for over fifty years?! There was actually a third item on the list that I cannot now recall though I wish I could!
Slowing the pace keeps calling to me. Thanks for loving this watercolor/slow drawing piece : )
For some reason I had the “zoom” on and this piece filled the entire screen. And then some!
WOW! Fun to see the textures and details at 200%! It makes me think of ancient Egyptian kings. Hot desert air (which I can feel all around me). And undulating, ever changing sand dunes.
I love your memory, and the instructions. And I have a feeling they will stay in my memory now too.
1. ban a pipcol
2. pal of tin skinxoxo
Sheila, loved your thinking of ancient Egyptian kings, hot desert air, and undulating everchanging sand dunes! This piece had a not-from-around-here feel to me also.
Thanks for reflecting back
1. ban a pipcol
2. pal of tin skinin your comments. It’s fun to see these two phrases, lonnnnnng a part of my personal lexicon, now bounced back by you!!!
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I am so touched by your remembrance of that moment with the boys…reminded of one of my grandson’s and his phonetic spelling of words. Tender. Compassionate. These unforlding lessons.
And another small piece at a lovely slow pace – this one looks like vintage embroidery or cross-stitch! Like a small section of a large tapestry or other ornate fabric. Beautiful! xoxo
Lola, so touched by your tuning in to the tenderness and compassion behind that moment with the young boys who were my students at the time. The ban a pipcol kid turned out to be one of my favorite students ever; we were blessed to be a nourishing match as one-to-one tutor/tutee for two years. We brought out the best in each other. He taught me so much!
Thanks for your impressions of this piece as vintage embroidery or cross-stitch, like a small section of a large tapestry or other ornate fabric. Fun!
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