Black boards and white knuckles
Flying nuns with black shoe buckles
In the playground knocked about
In my memory holed-out
You’d clone 30 more of me, if you could
My one desire to not be me, if you would
Anticipation of loosening too tight braids
Knee socks and plaid smocks, like old maids
Always there, my saving grace
Head of the class, my mind displaced
Long wiry fingers and thick warm hugs
Cable-knit sweater-haze enraptures like drugs
Math and spelling bees serenade
Molding the future with her aid
Endearing and enviable to a young mind
Wished I could be one of your kind
A child forced to be painfully shy
Grows to be unwittingly wry
Ms. Brown and her reused tissue sleeves
Reborn each morning into Eve.
Author notes
Written May 7th, 2004
A contest entry
- teacher, teacher, I declare ...... (Contest for new members in May) by AP Greeters.
300 points, ended June 2, 2004, 25 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 15 of 15
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I've said this before, that I'm not a fan of rhyming poetry, but this didn't even feel like your typical rhyme. The story you tell is original and well-written.
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I remember being constantly punished at school because I wrote with my left hand. I had revenge though, I wrote with my right han hand and I wrote from right to left and in mirror writing. This is a very strong piece with lots of the images implied in a subtle way that builds up to a startling climax. Good job!
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And yet, I still get chills up and down my back when I see plaid in a shop . . . go figure.
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Haha, yep. Damn them. The worst time I ever had at school, after a bad start to high school, was my time at a Catholic school. Did a loss to break my faith in that particular institution.
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Ahhh, so you too were tortured at Catholic school. Finally, someone who gets it. Thanks.
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A wonderfully written piece of poetry, and one I, for some reason, could relate to on some level. For the most part this painted a very vivid picture of the kind of school my mother attended- but I can relate to it myself having been 'oppressed' in my time at a Catholic School.
Nicely done, I really enjoyed this. The image preceding the poem sets the tone well. -
Wonderful the flow and rhythym that Barbara spoke about is very good. Good luck in the contest, Dave.
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Great flow and rhythm to this lovely poem about an important person who made 'strict' bearable.
Welcome to Allpoetry and good luck with the contest
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This poem is very well done. You have a lot of talent. ^^ It's easy to visualize what the poem is trying to say.
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Thanks for a well done entry here - Qetesh. Your descriptions were excellent, esp in that last stanza. Eve - how inventive. What a compliment to her
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I adored the last image; the contrast of the tissue-sleeved teech and a glorious, nudie Eve. It really struck me.
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I like this very much - I like your Ms. Brown and your tribute to her and the indelible mark she has left upon you. enough to write about her so she must have made some impression.
good entry and Good Luck Welcome to Allpoetry
~von~ -
Thanks, Nurse and catz . . . sometimes you just don't realise the influence people in your past had over you 'til you sit to write a poem and actually allow yourself to "feel" something.
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This person was obviously very special and still holds a significant place in your heart. I believe that as children we are all touched by special people
Fabulous rhyme and flow
Good luck and thanks for entering
Hayley x x x -
A most interesting and well written poem, Qetesh. Very visual and the reader cannot help but realize the influence this teacher hd upon you.
Good luck in the contest and welcome to allpoetry
Dee
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