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Open Poetry #4
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Ode to a Teacher
| Open Poetry #4 |
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Ode to a Teacher |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Glancing up as you began speaking I was struck by the tone of your voice The words, certainly, held conviction It was clear you spoke by choice Your eyes held a passionate fire For the subject of which you spoke Transfixed and transpired, I felt The mood you tried to evoke Coughs and sudden shifts of boredom Interrupted your speech to the class But steadily you maintained your course With only one sip from your water glass When it was done, we were dismissed But I, entranced, remained Watching you gather your scholar’s things My admiration for you unfeigned You glanced at me as you left the room I smiled and nodded my head Hoping you’d understand the words That between us continue unsaid. I never forgot your lecture, sir. As I followed in the path you chose Like you, I became a teacher, Of eighteenth century poetry and prose. |
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| © Copyright 1999 Poet deVine - All Rights Reserved | |||
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
PDV......absolutely wonderful. What an ode to an teacher that has definately impacted your life  ------------------ Alis volat propriis (She flies with her own wings) |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Alas, it's all from a dream..I didn't have a teacher that inspired me, nor did I become a teacher. If I had the former, I most certainly would be the latter. In my school, it was football and science that got the accolades..poor unknown poets such as I were left to fend for themselves in a poorly stocked library!  |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
PDV: Great poem! This is a great tribute to the remarkable people who are gifted not just to teach, but to touch. |
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Kenneth Ray Taylor Member
since 1999-11-11
Posts 139Duluth, Minnesota, USA |
I'm amused. Your teacher sounded too good to be true--and guess what, he is. But you fooled me. Therefore, you are a good writer of fiction. Me, I haven't the imagination to write fiction. I'm afraid my poems are so autobiographical that they get me in trouble. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
I think few things affect the direction of a child more than teachers. They are SO important and should be treated with the utmost dignity and respect (all except for Professor Toerag, of course) Good poem, deVine one. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Sometimes our dreams are better then the real thing. You are a super poet though, that's not a dream. |
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Toerag Member Ascendant
since 1999-07-29
Posts 5622Ala bam a |
Balladeer? But....but,...I strive to "touch" yanno?....(You should see some of these college students....females..man...females) |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Ms DeVine: Thought about being a teacher many times but didn't want to get caught in all the red tape, politics and bureaucracy that goes along with the job now-a-days. Right now I'm happy volunteering in my daughter's kindergarten class. This was a nice tribute to those who get so little appreciation. Thanks for sharing. |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Beautiful writing, PdV! Very beautiful! I felt that I was sitting in that classroom! ------------------ Denise |
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Mystic Essence Junior Member
since 1999-09-29
Posts 28 |
This is wonderful..I too wish to become a teacher and I understand the feelings in this poem as well...great work! ------------------ My tears are but a glimpse into the fiery tempest of my soul.~© Althea Willow, 1999~ |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Thank you all for your kind words.  |
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Systematic Decay Senior Member
since 1999-09-15
Posts 1301That place with padded walls and funny people in white......... |
Very descriptive, I felt as though I was right there in the class. Nice. ------------------ Thinking is just what a great many people think they are doing when they are merely rearranging their predjudices. |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Poet deVine, you touched the heartstrings of this mom with this one. GREAT TRIBUTE ! Two of my children are school teachers. My daughter teaches special needs children and one of my sons teaches fourth graders. The impact they have on children reminds me of the respect I always maintained for the teachers in my life. In all my years of learning, I knew when the teacher touched my soul with a challenge. While they could still hear the words, I thanked Miss KIng, Mr. Talton, Mr. Pearce and Mr. Beachum. These wonderful teachers left a lasting impression on me ... I hope I did on them. Thank you for 'hugging' the teachers in my life. ------------------ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
A wonderful work, PdV - This actually has been an extraordinary week for me, so I appreciate your poem more than you know. I "ran the gamut" - so to speak... I began my week having to watch a child get away with calling his mother the most grotesque of four letter words - and ended it on a different note. A wonderfully charming young man handed me a beautifully crafted origami swan (which he made in class, of course) - bearing a note which apologized for any aggravation his "talking in class" may have caused me..... Go figure!! (I'll be keeping it for posterity)... Thanks PdV - It's nice to be appreciated ... |
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