Seeking Joy

 Seeking Joy

by Jennifer Tianen (McQuillan), 

WBHS Literary Garden Club and Earth Club Sponsor

   

                                        "TEACHER TO TEACHER TO TEACHER"

 For J. Cox

When you took the time to recognize

what I was doing well

you were measuring water into the mouth

of a desert-parched little girl

Now I carry a pitcher,

treasured legacy in my hand. I offer

witness: a voice to say, "I see you."

affirm, "What you can do matters."

argue, "You have something good to share."

Thank you for those flowers planted,

for my sacred mandate to scatter seeds

into every crack in the concrete;

into every unclenched, opening hand.

From Incantations for Rest: Poems, Meditations, and Other Magic 

by Atena O. Danner, 2022. All rights reserved.

   In November of 2022, I was in line at the American Writers Museum in Chicago with my friend Christina from Narrative 4. It was the first time we had met in person; she had driven an hour or more to meet me there (thank you, Christina!) and to listen to Ross Gay read from his newly released book, Inciting Joy. I was so energized from his reading, from the Q & A that followed, and from the intense, exciting conversations we were having in line with a poet and educator we had just met. Atena was thrilled to be there herself, as she had just published her own poetry book and wanted to thank Ross for his inspiration and give him a copy of her work. 

    Atena loved the idea of the Literary Garden. A former teacher now working in education policy in Chicago, we talked about the importance of incorporating nature and joy-filled literature and moments into students' days, especially post-pandemic, with all of its challenges. It was important, all three of us noted, for teachers to have that as well: if exhausted teachers did not find a wellspring for their own social-emotional wellness, we would have nothing left to give: to our students, to our families, and most importantly, to ourselves. 

    That was exactly while I was there. In search of joy, inspiration, laughter. 

    IDEAS for how to adjust, modify, - not pivot, I was so tired of that word! - 

    but to truly change the way I taught. 

    To rethink and rebuild.

   To find the courage to start again. 

    Before I made it to Ross Gay's table, Christina needed to leave. Atena let me go ahead of her. We were the last two in line, and before we parted, she signed a copy of her poetry collection and gave it to me. Stunned by her kindness, I told her that I thought our meeting was meant to be, that she had given me hope that I was heading in the right direction. Her encouragement (and actual directions to my parking garage!) on a chilly November night warmed my heart. 

Thank you, Atena. 

You saw me, teacher to teacher, and reminded me that what I can do matters.

    Why all of this for a Literary Garden post? 

    I encouraged the students to write for this blog while I tried to take a step back. I wanted to showcase their work. The pandemic, however, challenged students in many ways, and I wanted to provide an update for anyone who has ever taken an interest in the Literary Garden. We have wonderfully supportive school, alumni, and community members; incredible partnerships in the civic, business, and state humanities sectors, and a network of authors, museums, libraries, scholars, societies, gardeners, and family members across the country that have been incredibly generous with their time, talents, information, knowledge, funding, and so much more - intangibles that I cannot possibly explain here. 

Please know how grateful I am for 

ALL of the support we have continued to receive over the last 10 years!

  (I meant to publish this three years ago. Whoops!) 

    ROSS GAY: I had the great pleasure of meeting Ross at an NAAEE Conference in 2017 at Wayne State University when he did a reading from his work The Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude. I told him about the Literary Garden (I mean, the man wrote about false indigo in his poetry! I got it!) and asked him how we could honor his work in the Garden. Figs, of course. Mr. Lau's figs:

But, as Robert Frost notes, "...knowing how way leads on to way...." life itself got IN the way, AND a pandemic, so here I was, in Chicago, five years later, reminding this nationally award-winning poet at the end of his very long night at this nationally-award winning museum that he owed me figs. The museum staff wanted me to go home. The museum president wanted me to go home. But I knew that no email could convey my enthusiasm or passion like I can in person. 

Poor Ross Gay. He looked at me bemusedly, if tiredly. Yes, he remembered me and the Garden. Yes, the figs. He laughed. Ok, yes. I was either a Stephen King-level Misery fan or I REALLY loved figs or that poem or... I don't know WHAT he thought, but yes, figs. We'd figure it out. 

And at the very end of May, 2023, we did. 

Thank you, Ross Gay, and Christina, and Atena, and the American Writers Museum, and all of my students over the years, and all of you who take the time to cheer us on in the Literary Garden. We are so grateful, and we are always seeking - and creating - JOY. Moreso in 2026 than ever. 

    

Ten Years of the Literary Garden! Nickie and Jacob

Our West Bloomfield High School Literary Garden is TEN YEARS OLD! In honor of our BIG ANNIVERSARY, please enjoy this series of blog posts from our Literary Garden alums, community partners, and friends.  -Ms. Tianen

"a family affair" by nickie rockett

 “... it helped me learn the value of taking risks and reaching for goals that may seem really difficult or even impossible.”

My name is Nickie Rockett. I am currently in my junior year at Michigan State University. I joined Literary Garden in my junior year of high school after being in Ms. Tianen’s Honors American Literature class. I knew a bit about the club because my older sister, Katie, was a founding member and she had told me about it before, but learning about the specific connections to American Literature through the class really made me want to join. 

Katie is second from right in the purple shirt!

7 minutes (still a record!)

When I was in Ms.Tianen’s class in my sophomore year, I did a research project based on Ada Limón, the Poet Laureate of the United States at the time. Because of that project, I eventually suggested reaching out to include Ada Limón to see if she wanted to be included in the garden. When I reached out to her literary representative, I received a response in 7 minutes that included the plant that she wanted to include in the garden: forsythia.

FORSYTHIA

At the cabin in Snug Hollow near McSwain Branch creek, just spring, all the animals are out, and my beloved and I are lying in bed in a soft silence. We are talking about how we carry so many people with us wherever we go, how even simple living, these unearned moments, are a tribute to the dead. We are both expecting to hear an owl as the night deepens. All afternoon, from the porch, we watched an Eastern towhee furiously build her nest in the untamed forsythia with its yellow spilling out into the horizon. I told him that the way I remember the name forsythia is that when my stepmother, Cynthia, was dying, that last week, she said lucidly, but mysteriously, More yellow. And I thought yes, more yellow and nodded because I agreed. Of course, more yellow. And so now in my head, when I see that yellow tangle, I say, For Cynthia, for Cynthia, forsythia, forsythia, more yellow. It is night now. And the owl never comes, only more of night and what repeats in the night.

© 2022, Ada Limón
From: The Hurting Kind
Publisher: Milkweed Editions

Her literary representative directed me to her latest collection at the time, The Hurting Kind, which includes a poem named after that very plant. Having the ability to create a long-lasting physical connection to my coursework that has stayed in the school beyond my time there really means so much to me because it turned my tenth-grade research project into something bigger than itself. This experience was very valuable to me because it helped me learn the value of taking risks and reaching for goals that may seem really difficult or even impossible. When writing my email asking if Ada Limón wanted to be involved, I doubted there would even be a response. This gave me a new willingness to be ambitious that I have carried with me into my college life, which has granted me many wonderful opportunities that I was scared to go for, but tried anyway.

 

 

At the end of my junior year, I was elected as the Jr. Literary Garden Chair to be in charge of our other garden at Doherty elementary school, which focused on connecting nature to children’s literature. I am very grateful and proud that I got to participate on the board of the club after only being in it for one year. We made so many fun memories taking care of the garden that year, and even received recognition from Michigan Green Schools for our commitment to maintaining nature within the school. 

    In addition to wonderful academic opportunities, the Literary Garden Club also fostered many friendships. I convinced several of my friends to join the club with me and we still look back and laugh about our time in the club all of the time. I love hearing updates on what the club continues to do. My little sister, Alyssa, is now president of the club and I am so proud and excited to see what she does in her position and where the club goes in the future. It’s crazy to think about how this club started with my older sister and its continuous impact on all of our high school experiences, but I would not exchange it for anything. 

“joy and hope” by jacob jackson

 

 

My name is Jacob Jackson and I am currently in my junior year at Grand Valley State University. I discovered the Literary Garden club through my best friend, Nickie, in my senior year at West Bloomfield High School through countless experiences that consisted of enthusiasm and passion. Over time, my interest in this club peaked because I’ve never heard of such an intriguing blend of topics such as literature and nature. I remember joining my first meeting and feeling such a feeling of joy and hope. There was a sense of optimism in the air and a genuine refreshing energy. I felt immediately accepted in a classroom full of different looks, cultures, and energies. The immediate tossing of ideas of which authors to honor in our school's garden was quick and fast paced.

    On a whim, an exchange of ideas occurred between Ms. Tianen and I, mentioning both notable authors and public figures, James Patterson and Dolly Parton. A pairing you wouldn’t necessarily expect, but still manage to respect. An idea quickly turned into an ambitious email. With the collaboration of Ms. Tianen, I drafted an email contacting Dolly Parton’s team through Parton’s own library called Imagination Library. We were greatly astonished at the response from Dolly’s team which resulted in Dolly Parton requesting butterfly plants that attract butterflies to the garden. Following through with this request, a vision of having a butterfly waystation in the garden occurred and a generous $500 grant was given.  Throughout this process, I felt an out of body experience being a part of something like this. I would’ve never expected me to be involved in something to this magnitude, but also feeling proud and relieved that I was. The following year, I was so proud that I decided to dress up as Dolly Parton for the Homecoming parade representing the Literary Garden Club! Talk about school spirit! 

“like being a part of the club was something bigger than us” 

    In my senior year of high school, I took on a more involved role becoming Diversity Chair. My role consisted of promoting diversity, prioritizing shedding light on different perspectives from people of color, and seeking out members from other cultures widely. Along with that, being a part of this club made me realize how important the merging of nature and literature can be. Discovering new authors, poets, and social activists and finding that connection through nature was something very inspiring. Everyone in the club had and still has such a bright and positive spirit that made me feel like being a part of the club was something bigger than us and putting our best foot forward towards something impactful for the environment. Through participating in different community-led events with Literary Garden, it felt natural for me to care about not only the environment around me, but the people I’m surrounded by.  

    Post Literary Garden, I find myself reflecting on the time that was spent in the club feeling proud of the work we did, but also hoping the years following after me do more and continue to lead community led events, care about the environment, prioritize real thinking, literature, and authentic art across all platforms.