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The English Teacher
| Open Poetry #1 |
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The English Teacher |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US 
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I was cleaning out some directories tonight (what else does one do at four in the morning), and found a poem I had all but forgotten. Interestingly, I wrote this when I first "met" Nan on-line and discovered she was an English teacher. In reading it again, I'm a bit surprised she's still talking to me.  The English TeacherOr if she had a spouse. She never said from whence she came, Or took me to her house. Her past was unknown history, Of which I seldom thought, Her life another mystery, But one I never sought. Her crinkled skin and graying hair, And lashes thick as fur, With hazel eyes and brazen glare, Were all I saw of her. Lips that pursed in furrowed moons, When I abused a word, Fingers curled in silent runes, Were beacons always heard. She pushed me farther than I knew, Much farther than I craved, With discipline and verb-tense rules, Another mind she saved. She taught me tense and precedence, The ways of drank and drink, But more, she taught me common sense, And taught me how to think. Her love of words, I have the same, A legacy I found, I'll never know her Christian name, Her soul -- I know profound. |
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| © Copyright 1999 Ron Carnell - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
I wis that I kud rech hur, Mi hiskul nglesh techur I'd lik fur hur to b abl to c That thru hur sher indurins I giv hur mi asurins That hukt on fonix rele wurkt fur me! |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Ron that was a great poem! I loved English, Mrs. Boothby was my favorite English teacher because she let me write the way I wanted to write! Balladeer, you'll have to type with your fingers not your tongue!  |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
...and I, of course couldn't resist such a wonderful opportunity to launch what became a felicitous daily repartee of poetic sparring - This is another of my true stories, folks.... MY RE-SPAR-TEE Instead of all that I should do I'll spar with Ron Carnell. I had that English teacher too - Her name was Miss Parnell. Who would have thought I'd see some day Her other side instead? For now when we aren't out to play She's my "Department Head". Your teacher's views are generalized, 'Cuz we don't fit that bill. I'll bet you never realized That some just never will. Now I, for one, have no gray hair - Just golden locks for me. No wrinkled skin or scathing stare - A smile, my students see. For then all day when I'm in school The kids will give me hugs. They tell me that they think I'm cool And fill my coffee mugs. But they all have essays to write; And do it right they shall, Or back to basics is their plight - Then I am not their pal! And so, my friend, from what I see You've learned your lessons well. Your teacher did instill in thee A poet called Carnell.  [This message has been edited by Nan (edited 07-05-99).] |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
Poet deVine - Mrs. Boothby? Mine was Mrs. Schell. Nan's was Miss Parnell (talk about serendipitous rhyming!). I'll bet most of us have a teacher, though not necessarily English, that we remember fondly and feel may have changed our lives. Isn't it strange? I've forgotten the names and faces of lovers, but there are a handful of teachers that I will likely never forget. Talk about influential? Oh, and Balladeer - the saddest part is that every one of your words is spelled perfectly reasonable. As is your unspoken conclusion. Makes me really glad to live in an age with spell checkers! Thanks for the comments and verse, my friends... |
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elvira Senior Member
since 1999-07-06
Posts 936California |
how lovely, if only she knew you have a poetry website know, i'm sure she would be proud, back to the top, to inspire "want-to-be" teachers such as myself ------------------ Tribute to M.J. ... My One and Only ... Childhood Memories ... your countenance ... hoarse whispers ... serving wench ... stolen hours ... devotion ... Master |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Oh this is wonderful! I had to bump it for the teachers out there, and one day I will have to show you how Nan cringes when I talk sometime  Loved this! |
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skyshine
since 2002-02-07
Posts 3058Beneath the northern stars |
This is great....I have fond memories of all my high school English teachers....freshman and junior years especially, because those were the years I discovered I LOVED poetry. (Freshman was reading it, the writing started when I was a junior.) Where would I be otherwise?  ~sky So you go and make it happen |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
What a joy to see! Thanks, Mysteria, for the bump! |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Indeed a joy!!! This poem was first posted on another poetry board - in another lifetime - before PiP was born... It was the onset of a very intense daily respartee between a couple of silly poets. Ron cheated, of course. He just pulled poems from his archives, while I - with much less to draw upon, had to write... and write... and write to keep up. Um.. He was harassing me even then, and he hasn't changed much to this day...  |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Oh, that we all could have had a teacher like this. Far too few to go around. I loved this piece. best, marty |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Needed to print this for a teacher at Ridgeway, but also wanted to bump it again for all the teachers out there that give so much that parents lack these days. Sorry, but that is the truth! God bless them all! It takes special people to be teachers, but we know that right? And...good thing this wasn't about Nan, if you said she had crinkled skin she would chase you clear around that field of yours and boxed your ears off! Carpe' Diem |
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whitedove Junior Member
since 2005-11-26
Posts 42 |
Hi there, I had an English teacher like this too. She started my love of reading novels when I was younger and I have enjoyed it ever since. She got us all into creating a list of books we had read over the summer, and writing our opinions of them for a competition. Ever since then, I have not stopped and it is now some 20 yrs later. Thank goodness for our teachers ----- and thanks for your poem it is great! - and the memories Whitedove |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
How pleased I am to see this one popped to the daily topics list ...~ Archiver that I am ... I thought that in over six years of reading here, that I'd at least peeked in on almost every poem PiP had to offer ... this one shows me that I must make some time to go archiving again~  I LOVE THIS !!! How fun !!! *Huglets*  ~*Marge*~ ~*No matter what I search for ... |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Couldn't help but come back to visit some of the beginnings...  Perhaps some of our new poets will enjoy it too! |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Thanks, Karilea - for taking us back to our "beginnings" - What a pleasure... AND - I STILL don't have any gray hair!!!...  |
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Drauntz Member Elite
since 2007-03-16
Posts 2905Los Angeles California |
this is so beautiful. I wonder why you do not write poems now. You write beautifully. a wonderful piece, truly |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
This is a joy. Ron and Nan made me smile. Thank you both. Alison |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
Alison, you are a busy gal! Thanks again for archive diving~~ I have begun doing so myself (for the memories). And Ron, I must have missed this one but having met Nan, I think it "special". ( I know, I should never begin a sentence with And) Nan, from one teacher to another~~ you have a gift and have shared it well. M |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Oh happy day - Thanks, ladies.. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Ahem.... This really ought to be reposted in the current forum, don't you think, Ladies??   |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Yep, with Nan's poetic reply. A |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
This was sweet and enjoyable. |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
After reading this again, and having seen Nan's love of teaching, this could have been for and about her. I still think that teachers are the most underpaid, unappreciated heroes we have today. Our very future is in their hands. Nice to read this one more time. |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Well - He did write it for me.. but it can't be about me. I still have no gray hair, after all.. |
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