The Voices

H.D. Everything

H.D. do everything
H.D. everything Now
Henry David don’t you know?
H.D. Everything, don’t you see? 

Everything finished
Everything clean
Everything perfect
You know what I mean

H.D. do everything
Humbly do everything

H.D. do everything
Humbly do it now
Humbly do everything
Humbly through and through
Humbly do everything
H.D. Everything now

Nearly a decade ago I started channeling Little Jeff as a consultant in my work as an educator. I would often think back to what would Little Jeff do. What would Little Jeff feel? Most importantly, what if Little Jeff were in my class with me? I’ve thought a lot about it.

Have you thought much about what it was like when you were a young learner? For me I have voices of adults that I can still hear. Sometimes I hear their exact words. “What were you thinking, you idiot!” Sometimes I hear their voice like like a drum beat driving me to do something.

I began writing to help capture those voices. I began writing from the perspective of Little Jeff, sometimes in prose and often in verse. The poem H.D. Everything captures one of many poignant messages that Little Jeff heard over and over.

What would you write about Little You?
What would our students write?

Challenge: Find a spot to sit by yourself and write nonstop for 15 minutes about Little You.