A PIECE OF CHALK
A lesson on ‘Grass’ I teach
They don’t understand- my children
Blank, questioning looks-enquiring....
They look at me and the blackboard....
A blackboard with no writing
And a teacher without a piece of chalk
Both blank and empty.......
I crave for a piece of chalk
A piece of chalk in my hand
That binds me and my children
I write.........letters
White letters against blackness
Doesn’t it look silvery...?
That shines.........
Shines in the darkness of my life
The letters fill the blackboard
The children stare at that...
Do they understand......?
--that they fill the pages of my life
Do they understand.......?
--that what I teach should fill the pages of their life
Do they understand......?
We stamp on grass and say ‘O, grass ! worthless’
But they smoothen the thorny path of our life
Grass-‘ The living garment of God’- to Goethe
And ‘ a scented handkerchief with God’s signature’ to Whitman
Green, young and life-giving
A mediator between man and earth
To protect earth from barren, rocky nothing
Oh! A girl dozing in my class
A piece of chalk on her
Like my teacher did long time back
To awaken her to reality
I write .......words
Words for my children to internalize
Words that contain a world of passion
Words to excite and entice
Words to order and obey
Words to utter and abuse
Will my children abuse with the words I teach
That will bring a tear in many eyes
Words of success and defeat
Words that breathe, words that boast
Words that talk , words that walk
Words that gallop, words that fly
Will my children sing songs with my words
That will make many minds to dance
Words of will and wish
Words of love and hate
Will they use these words to hate
That will bring conflict in their life
Words of comfort and console
And The Bible said ‘The word was God’
Can I make them understand....?
Like black and white, day and night
Is sorrow and happiness-intermingling
We can’t escape........
That blackness makes whiteness brighter
That ecstasy makes agony enduring
And agony makes ecstasy fulfilling
Now children.........
Go out and absorb colours from nature
Blue from the ocean, azure from the sky
Green from the leaves, yellow and brown too....
Rose, violet and lily will fill your life with colours
The colour of twilight need not dishearten you
For there is a day after every night
Oh! it fell down......
A piece of chalk
I should not stamp on it
I need it for tomorrows’ children
And for ME
Author notes
the worry and fear of a teacher
Written September 4th, 2006
option 3
A contest entry
- Labor Away by Carly Pop.
300 points, ended September 5, 2006, 7 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Give me your best! by BabyBun.
450 points, ended May 8, 2008, 24 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Passion by Florida Sunshine.
600 points, ended July 12, 2008, 36 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Anything and everything-prewrites allowed-2nd contest by Midgetbridgey.
350 points, ended July 11, 2008, 245 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
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First I want to say in regards to teachers, it is a tough job. Most 'teachers' live to see recognization of understanding light up in 'anyone' learning. Excellent subject matter.
I commend you in your tribute to what teachers thrive for. Nice job!
Thanks for entering the 'Passions' contest, it was my pleasure to read your work. I hope you had a fun penning and the best of luck to you.
Florida Sunshine
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Great piece - good luck
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I have to remove this from the contest. I am unable to see the anagram and you didn't respond to me IM. I'm sorry
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I apologies but the rules say no prewrites whic have already won a trophy...if you wish to enter another poem feel free...but I must DQ this entery
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I really liked this. It's rather deep. It starts out kind of slow and a tad monotonous. The last couple of stanzas are the best of this poem. They're very dynamic and convey your message better than the first stanzas.
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Wonderful use of words, and how everything you wrote revolved around the same center point. This made it an excellent write with a concrete foundation.
A teacher once told me that even the smallest blade of grass could make a difference in nature just like a person can make a difference. This poem reminds me of the lesson in science when i was in 4th grade. And the idea of children being able to grasp the concept of your lesson throught the chalk dancing and writing on the chalkboard is phenominal. I applaud you for this wonderful poem.
-ChrisTrauma
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I am not a teacher but I am a parent I have the up most respect for what you all do for your life thank you for posting and sharing I love this write
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Wonderful write
This tugs at my heart too. We share the same passion.
"Do they understand......?
--that they fill the pages of my life
Do they understand.......?
--that what I teach should fill the pages of their life"
Your poem reads like a fine performance piece. As dear Carol - Shewolfnative - said, this poem would do so much more good in our professional development than the workshops we sit through run by so called educational experts.
Thank you for directing me to this poem. I have it bookmarked. And thanks so much for reading my poems. We have a lot in common - our children.
Hugs
-joanne
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WOW
Absolutley. Wonderful poem. I have been there and done that on more than one occasion. I feel worry every day. Excepetional write. Kassie -
Thank you for alerting me to this poem. I can see by your words that you are in the trenches with the little ones. That is such a challenge, one I am not sure I would be worthy of fulfilling. I have also written a poem about teaching because I really believe I learn so much from my students.
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Very abstract and metaphorical... But beautifully represented and put. Description, explanation and thought behind is wonderful within this piece. I only hope worries don't overpower you.
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Sighs...
A teacher of children...with Goethe and Whitman as sidemen, what's not to like and love with your words.
Wonderfully said and phrased, magnificently expressed as we attempt, try, do our best, strive, plead, to be allowed to pass on what we have learned to those who yearn to know and hope that we can do well,what we intend.
A true pleasure to meet you and understand a little more, thank you.
amicus...
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Absolutely incredible write
Oh you know the Language of Loe in Education. this poem is absolutely priceless....it belongs in education magazines. It belongs rather than those millions of handouts they cosntantly shuffle at us, in our staffrooms, in our mailboxes, in our manuals, in our orientation. It belongs in University Education Prep classes....
I spent 23 years changing the educatins system from the inside out, refused principalships and VP positions...because I belonged front line, with the kids, with the staff.
What beautiful learner teacher you must be. Bless your chalk!
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Well, your poem is written from the perspective of a teacher, and mine from that of a student, for a teacher who has really changed my life. There are students like you described in your poem, as well as students who are sincere, and respect their teachers and listen to them no matter what happens.
Anyway, nice write!
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