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Word of the Day:

intimidate - v. - to make someone afraid or worried because of a difficult situation. __Example Sentences__: //The thought of giving a presentation in front of a large audience __initimidates__ me, so I'm going to rehearse a lot first. When I was a child, a bully at my school __intimidated__ me both physically and verbally, and it affected my performance quite a lot.//

Discussion Questions:

1. What situations intimidate you? Why? How do you react when you are in these situations?

2. Have you ever felt intimidated by another person? Describe the situation and how you handled it.



Poem of the Day: The title of the poem is "Courage." What are examples of courage? Do people demonstrate courage in their everyday lives? If so, how? Do you have a lot of courage? When do you need courage?

Courage by Anne Sexton

It is in the small things we see it. The child's first step, as awesome as an earthquake. The first time you rode a bike, wallowing up the sidewalk. The first spanking when your heart went on a journey all alone. When they called you crybaby or poor or fatty or crazy and made you into an alien, you drank their acid and concealed it.

Later, if you faced the death of bombs and bullets you did not do it with a banner, you did it with on a hat to cover your heart. You did not fondle the weakness inside you though it was there. Your courage was a small coal that you kept swallowing. If your buddy saved you and died himself in so doing, then his courage was not courage, it was love; love as simple as shaving soap.

Later, if you have endured a great despair, then you did it alone, getting a transfusion from the fire, picking the scabs off your heart, then wringing it out like a sock. Next, my kinsman, you powdered your sorrow, you gave it a back rub and then you covered it with a blanket and after it had slept awhile it woke to the wings of the roses and was transformed.

Later, when you face old age and its natural conclusion your courage will still be shown in the little ways, each spring will be a sword you'll sharpen, those you love will live in a fever of love, and you'll bargain with the calendar and at the last moment when death opens the back door you'll put on your carpet slippers and stride out.