PARIS — School officials, staff and students dedicated the Fred Schwaner Poetry Corner in the school library Wednesday in honor of the longtime teacher and poet who passed away last summer.

“His poetry was always unexpected, unique and valued,” Principal Jane Fahey said of Schwaner’s dedication to writing humorous, fun or serious poems, ranging from a piece about the local sewer cat to a poem advising everyone to “lighten up.”

“We hope it will inspire children to discover their own poetic voice,” Fahey said.

Schwaner, a sixth-grade teacher at Paris Elementary School and an educator in the Oxford Hills School District for 38 years, passed away last July at his Hebron home after courageously battling cancer. He was 59.

The dedication of what will be known as the Fred Schwaner Poetry Corner in the Paris Elementary School library was attended by more than 50 people, including school staff, students, family and friends. Schwaner began his career in the Hartford-Sumner Elementary School and moved on to be principal and sixth-grade teacher at the Waterford, Norway and Paris elementary schools in the Oxford Hills district.

“During his career he touched the lives of many adults and children,” Fahey said. His students who attended Wednesday’s dedication ranged from elementary school children to the current Oxford Hills School District Assistant Superintendent Patrick Hartnett.

Paris Elementary teacher Doug Hoy told those assembled that he met Schwaner many years ago when Hoy interviewed for a position in the school district.

“We never really know where the road’s going to take us,” he said of life’s journey, but he said “never in a million years” did he expect he would be speaking at memorial dedication for Schwaner.

“It is a privilege to take part in a corner of his life,” said Hoy before reading a poem Schwaner wrote called “Lighten Up.” The first stanza is:

“When you’re tight and feeling blue,

I’m going to tell you what to do.

It isn’t hard you just back up.

Take some time and lighten up.”

Local poet, author and winner of 2011 Cybils Award for Poetry, Paul Janeczko, who visited the Paris Elementary School for a day earlier this month to work with students on writing poetry, said the dedication showed a real sense of community and the students he worked with showed a tremendous appreciation of poetry. He said he was so moved by the dedication that he intends to bring in some of his own books to keep in the poetry corner.

The plaque was presented to family members, including Schwaner’s widow, Rose, and his sisters Joan Deans and Adele Charity. Before it was presented, fifth-grade student Sasha Pollard was asked to read a poem she wrote for Schwaner, whom she never met but whose words seemed to sum up the feelings of those in the audience.

“So long my dear friend

So long the one who made me laugh

So long to the friendly smile on your face

So long to the one who made me believe in myself

So long.”

“This speaks volumes to how his memory is living on with all our kids,” Fahey said.

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SIDEBAR

When you’re tight and feeling blue

I’m gonna tell you what to do

It isn’t hard you just back up

Take some time and lighten up

All those worries cares and stress

Cause you now to be depressed

Don’t let yourself be all shook up

Take some time and lighten up

Your work, your family, and your friends

Sometimes puts you at wits end

If you say, I’ll just give up

Take some time and lighten up

You know that diner down the street

The one that serves that awesome meat

Go in there say, “Cook her up”

Then sit back and lighten up

You think, OK, foods not for me

I don’t eat cholesterol meat

Go read a book, go rake a lawn

Don’t sit there and feel forlorn

When you’re tight and feeling blue

This affects both me and you

Prepare your favorite coffee cup

Better yet just cuddle up

Now you see just what I mean

Life will never be serene

Before you’re worn and all washed up

Take that time and lighten up

This little rhyme can work for thee

If you like philosophy

If you don’t, stay all shook up

But take advice and lighten up.

—By Fred Schwaner