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Patricia
Member Elite

since 2003-04-06

Posts 2160
Missouri

0 posted 2003-12-28 05:44 PM

Reserved for Remembering

Teachers’ desks hold so many necessities,
utensils,
staples of learning.

From pencils for 1, 2, 3’s and A B C’s
to scissors and markers for creativities

And then, of course,
teachers have their own special tools,
sometimes referred to as weapons:
lesson plans, grade books,
attendance records, red pens
and...
in carbon quadruplicate,
always close at hand,
misconduct forms of which
the mere mention tends
to tame the most unruly of students.

Finally, usually in the farthest extreme
of teachers’ desks are
those pesky hindrances,
confiscated before taking flight or
being passed in wishful hush,
but still audible to the acute
sensitivity of teachers’ ears.

Yes,
My classroom desk drawers
hold all of these, as well,

except one drawer,
one drawer reserved just for me...

Words of Poetry

For it seems once,
the shyest of three young ladies,
students,
murmured their affinity,
their poets' desire,

and had I not had that same desire,
that same fire,
I may have missed their slip of lip.

Now, whether it by fate, fortune,
or just good hearing
they bring their words.

Each independently,
one not knowing of the other,
by the most sacred of poet pinkie swears,
rush to my classroom
their God-given gifts between
locker stops and tardy bells with
no time for a quick read and reply,
my drawer, my teacher’s drawer,

that special drawer
is lined with words...

The words of young poets.

And on those challenging days when
soothe of soul cannot be found,
when life and I sparred the final round
when I forget why it is I do what I do,
I reach for that drawer,
the one reserved for remembering.

Magnus

Member Laureate

since 2001-10-10

Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA

1 posted 2003-12-28 05:48 PM

Goodness, you put tears in both eyes with
this one....treasure this one...for it is
a gem...worthy of keeping, polishing and
remembering FOREVER!

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

2 posted 2003-12-28 06:28 PM

That drawer holds treasures.
Very touching poem and as always masterfully penned.
Love, Margherita

wintertao
Member

since 2003-11-17

Posts 366
Okaloosa Island, FL

3 posted 2003-12-28 06:34 PM

very very nice...the only suggestion I could make to this is you could also end on the line:

The words of young poets.

and do away with the last stanza.

Anyway its Excellent just as is, a very creative touching write, well done indead.

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

4 posted 2003-12-28 06:47 PM

Such a special drawer, Patricia.
Perhaps, towards the end of the year,
a little sharing of this poem with your students
on their last day...
will leave them thoughts to lift them through
their years

iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

5 posted 2003-12-28 08:06 PM

Very special drawer you have described. Thank goodness for caring teachers!

BluesSerenade
Member Patricius

since 2001-10-23

Posts 10549
By the Seaside

6 posted 2003-12-28 08:40 PM

Thank you for sharing a place at your desk!!
This is a great poem Patricia, enjoyed your insight and the direction you took.

......I'm just sitting here smiling.

*applause*

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

7 posted 2003-12-28 08:55 PM

Very touching write...extremely well written.
Hugs~

In the midst of winter..
I found there lives within me,
an invincible summer.

SharaRose
Member Elite

since 2003-07-19

Posts 2501
Somewhere out there~

8 posted 2003-12-28 09:15 PM

This is just precious....I got choked up and water came to my eyes. What a lovely thing to happen to you. WOW...this was a treasure revealed. Thanks for sharing that. Such a nice thing you did.

Love,
Terri~

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

9 posted 2003-12-28 09:19 PM

Patricia~
You too ????
Yep .... I've got one of those drawers ... and so does my daughter who teaches and my son who teaches and my daughter-in-law who teaches~
Ironic ... we ALL have that special poetry drawer ...~

Impacting young lives in so many ways~
GREAT penning, poetess~
*Huglets*
~*Marge*~

~*When the heart grieves over what it has lost,
the spirit rejoices over what it has left.
- Sufi epigram
noles1@totcon.com

garysgirl

Member Laureate

since 2002-09-29

Posts 19237
Florida, USA

10 posted 2003-12-29 02:20 AM

Patricia, not only do you have a special drawer in your desk
for your young poets.....you also have a special place reserved
in your heart for them. I agree with Karilea that if you
will share this poem with them near the end of the school year, it
would make a great impact on their lives, I'm sure.

Thank you for sharing this special place with us.

Hugs,

Ethel

*Belabebeautiful*

Senior Member

since 2003-01-03

Posts 696
washington, USA

11 posted 2003-12-29 02:32 AM

you brought tears to my eyes with this one...I usually just read yours and bow down to your superior skills at arousing the strongest of emotions but I had to reply to this one because I had a teacher that did that for me in school so this piece has touched some tender heartstrings and some wonderfull memories. I always love your work and this is no different, beautifully done
~Live and Laugh~

Because of you I laugh a little harder, smile a little more, and cry a little less
~Bella~

Ratleader

Member Rara Avis

since 2003-01-23

Posts 7026
Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass

12 posted 2003-12-30 09:55 AM

I know that desk...there's a teacher in my family. But the one you made me think of was named Ron Merrell....who intercepted words I was ashamed of, and made me proud I'd written them.

Decades later, everything I write is his because it wouldn't have been if he hadn't shown me that it's ok to be a poet.

~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

13 posted 2003-12-30 09:57 AM

Chuckling...and you know why!

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

14 posted 2003-12-30 12:19 PM

Just a few days ago, I got a card from Ann Duwe... who heard my whispers and encouraged my pen so many years ago... my debt to her is immeasurable.

This is beautiful, Patricia... and touches me deeply... thank you!

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

15 posted 2003-12-30 12:27 PM

gawd! this is so touching...so beautiful

thank you

steavenr
Member Elite

since 2003-11-17

Posts 4058

16 posted 2004-01-16 12:16 PM

Pat, just found this. I love it. It reminds me of my teacher so long ago that turned a shy young boy on to the beauty of poetry--7th grade for me. Forget cheese...oh the power of teaching!

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