Williams was sitting at his old, well-used, wooden desk the day after a soft storm.  He glanced out the window nearby and saw the weather-beaten chicken coop.  Next to it, a battered red wheel barrow.  It was a cold morning and he did not have much sleep.  His mind was not focused on writing.  Too many other thoughts streaming in. a Pipe in his mouth, a hand on his pipe.  Puffing away.  Lost in thought.  A rooster crows in the background bringing him back to now, right now.  He sees the wheelbarrow for the first time while starring out the window.  How much does that wheelbarrow do in a day?  Why is it so important? Am I like this wheelbarrow?  Am I who all are dependent on?  Am I becoming just as battered?

Williams poem seems to be so much more then just about a wheelbarrow. Even in its simplicity there is a question of longing, of self importance.

So much depends upon

The hinges

Overgrown with rust

Never to be opened again

Truth be told, I am scared to death about teaching kids reading. From what I have seen kids are either way above where “they should be” or below. Only few kids I know are excited by reading and that is because their home life encourages it. Encourages them to read beyond their skill set. I also know of many kids who aren’t exposed to good reading and could careless and see no point. Those are the kids I am terrified about. How do you encourage a kid to read when it is already implemented into their brain they hate it or they aren’t good at it? Better the question is how do we as teachers encourage reading that isn’t to teach for a certain standard? Most teachers aren’t lucky enough to be accepted into a district or school where we can “free style” our lessons. Most of us will be in schools where we have to abide by the binder of rules.

Miller, however, has given me some encouragement so far. (and this class) Kids are reading everywhere but in new forms. As a teacher I need to adjust to what these kids are into these days. I have to get away from the mentality of “technology is bad” in the classroom. I need to read what utopian and contemporary novels. I need to get on the same level of these kids. Once these concepts are instilled into my brain, I think my fears will subside a bit. I will know what my students want and need. Not just what I am told they have to know.

Bottom line, my goal is to make every kid that walks into my classroom a wild reader.

The tale of The Shoe is my favorite.  The ending is what I loved most.  It was not a fairy tale of a tale to me.  Yes, the girl got dressed up and met a prince.  However, there was no happily ever after.  She stood her ground.  She had fun and when she was done, she was done.  No ever ending romance, no magical kiss, just a girl having a good time outside of her expectant, miserable life.  That is real life.

The Tale of Goose Girl depicts the many images of women today.  It seems that a woman is not satisfied with who she is.  She is always on the hunt to be like someone else or to change her role in the world.

Why the title Kissing the Witch?  Perhaps  it is to remind us that not all of life is a true fairy tale. That most of us experience devastation, much like kissing a witch instead of princess/prince.