If I know myself,
my self-concept is not based
on what others say.
If I am honest,
I won’t waste my potential
deceiving myself.
Having confidence,
I approach life with courage,
not averse to risk.
Having self respect,
I won’t lower myself
showing others disrespect.
If I love justice,
I won’t elevate myself
keeping others down.
If I love myself,
I find it easier to
love my fellow man.
Copyrighted 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
A new page is available on this website. It is a collection of brief anecdotes from my teaching career.
Chapters: The Golden Rule, Larceny, Heartwarming Stories, Outrageous!, Teacher Education, Mayhem, Brushes with the Law, Outside Encroachment, More Heartwarming Stories
To access Stories from a Retired Teacher, please click the title on the menu to the left.
I like a man with warm, strong hands,
and I like the way my hand fits yours.
I like a man who thinks deep thoughts,
who talks abstractions
in the middle of the night
in a soothing Southern drawl.
I like to ride around with a man
who drives like he is seventeen,
but has the wisdom of a sage.
I like a man who is a truth-teller,
a man with honor in his eyes.
I like a man who makes me laugh,
who is silly and witty and wicked.
I like a man with warm, strong arms,
and I like the way I feel in yours.
Reprinted from Wonders
Copyrighted 2018 by Cheryl Batavia
Thoughts turning homeward,
World streaming by,
Blue sky, blue water.
Soaring in the blue,
Like soaring birds,
My thoughts fly to you.
Over the Skyway,
Head in the clouds,
Blue sky, blue water.
Reprinted from “Wonders.”
Copyrighted 2018 by Cheryl Batavia
Helios, in his fiery chariot,
crosses the sky each day.
His sister Selene,
in her chariot of silver,
travels the night sky.
We mark our days.
The moon waxes and wanes.
The seaons change.
Our birthdays mark the years
since the planets aligned…
and we were born.
Robert, my sun rises
and sets in you.
I will love you all my days.
I thank my lucky stars
for the day we met.
Copyright 2019 by Cheryl Batavia
Through the green forest
we descend a shady path
to Dark Hollow Falls.
Bright sunlight sparkles
on the cascading water
as it thunders down.
Taking off our shoes,
we splash in the icy pool
at waterfall’s end.
Our spirits refreshed,
we begin the steep ascent
as the sun goes down.
Copyrighted 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
This was my favorite hike in Shenandoah National Park when I lived in Virginia. There are half a dozen trails leading to gorgeous waterfalls in the park, as well as trails to beautiful overlooks of the valleys. I have fond memories of hiking many of those trails with family and friends.
Drew, I held your hand
as you left the world behind,
and I made promises to you.
I never cry…I stopped crying long ago,
but I am crying now as I remember.
Some promises I have kept
better than others.
I like to think you would be happy
with the way your autobiography turned out.
Your brother Mitch finished your book.
Your mother and I supported his efforts
for more than a year.
The Don Quixote in a wheelchair
that Mitch drew for you in high school
is on the cover.
I know you would approve.
I promised to raise our children
as you would have wanted
them to be raised, and I did my best.
Our children are grown up now,
and the struggles of life continue.
We have cherished our memories of you.
Our children remember your wise advice
and try to follow your example…
You left some pretty big shoes for us to fill!
I have made a new promise
for our grown-up children:
I will be their mother till the day I die
and always love them as I always loved you.
I know that you would be happy
that I have found someone to grow old with,
as you wished me to do.
He is someone I know you would like.
Drew, I wish I could have done more
to keep my promises to you.
I hope you would approve
of the things I have done.
Copyright 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
Drew’s autobiography, Wisdom from a Chair: Thirty Years of Quadriplegia, by Andrew Batavia and Mitchell Batavia is available on Amazon.
While munching his vegetables,
While munching his vegetables,
is a caterpillar in a hurry
to be a butterfly?
Is he in a rush to drink
nectar from flowers
and give grown-up life a try?
Maybe he just wants to open
his brand new wings…and fly!
What’s more beautiful,
butterflies or the flowers
that give them nectar?
Reprinted from Hanging Out with Wild Animals,
environmentally-themed book series for ages eight to twelve
Copyrighted 2019 by Cheryl Batavia
Cute little python,
she swallowed a mouse.
She swallowed a mouse
’cause she lives at my house.
Hungry python,
She swallowed a rat.
She swallowed a rat
and grew long and fat.
Exotic python,
never does any harm.
I walk along South Beach
with her hugging my arm.
Growing girl python,
she swallowed a rabbit.
She swallowed a rabbit
’cause it’s her new habit.
Big strong python,
she squeezes too tight.
I’ll let her go free
in the Everglades tonight.
Twenty-six-foot python
she swallowed a gator.
She swallowed a gator
and got hungrier later.
200-pound python,
she swallowed a deer.
She swallowed a deer
when it came too near.
Monster python,
She swallowed a car.
No, not a car–
I wouldn’t go that far.
But mama python
and her hundreds of babies
are causing extinction
of native species.
I’ll be very careful
choosing my next pet,
and never, ever
abandon it!
Reprinted from Hanging Out with Wild Animals II,
an environmentally-themed book series for ages eight to twelve
Copyrighted 20018 by Cheryl Batavia
The Burmese Python is an invasive species in the Florida Everglades that is decimating native animals such as alligators, deer, rabbits, and tropical birds. Every year, a hunt is conducted to try to eradicate them. One snake that was killed had consumed two deer–a doe and her fawn. The size of this animal and what it devours is not exaggerated in the poem, though I really think it does not have a taste for cars! Having a Burmese python as a pet is no longer legal in Florida.
I’ll go with you to the symphony
to enjoy the harpist, horns, and tympani.
Will you walk on the beach at my side?
There’s a concert by gulls and rising tides.
I’d love to accompany you to the opera
and listen to the tenor and colortura.
One day, let’s visit the woodland clearing
to hear the arias mockingbirds are singing.
Sure! I’ll hang out at the jazz club with you
and groove to piano, cello, and blues.
Will you stroll with me under starry skies
as frogs and crickets harmonize?
Reprinted from Life in Inspiring Places
Copyrighted 2019 by Cheryl Batavia
Photo by luizclas from Pexels
Walk with me beneath
a fortune cookie moon and
wish on every star.
Reprinted from Wonders
Copyright 2018 by Cheryl Batavia
Sometimes,
wakeful in the dark,
stillness of the night,
I see regrets like birds
perched on a fence,
silently reproaching me…
I should have shown
more empathy.
I could have made
different choices.
There were opportunities
I missed.
I can truthfully say
I have few regrets…
I ‘ve lived a meaningful
life and worked to
achieve worthy goals…
So I go back to sleep.
In the morning, I wake
to sunlight streaming
in my windows and birds
singing all around me,
and my heart sings along,
ready to seize the day.
Copyright 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
New green leaf unfurls
hopeful in the lush forest,
flutters in the breeze.
Yellow leaf shines bright
against a backdrop of green,
still clings to the branch.
Yellow leaf drifting
enjoyed its day in the sun,
now rests on the earth.
Copyrighted 2020 by Cheryl Batavia
