This is a poem for my teachers,
the people who almost
knocked my love of literature
out of me with a
black-board duster
Who were bigger bullies
than any of my class-mates,
who would always report
that I could do better,
even though I was trying
my absolute best.
This poem is for those teachers
who thought it more important
that we walk in the right direction
down the correct corridor
than what we actually learned in class.
This poem is for the teacher
who spent most of the lessons
drunk, taking hits of whiskey
in the stock-cupboard,
before teaching us last year's
syllabus by mistake.
The teachers may have ruined
Charles Dickens for me,
by throwing the book at us
and telling the class to have it
read by the end of the week,
But Shakespeare and stories
and poems, they are still mine.
My brother still cannot hear
Seamus Heaney without having
flash-backs to horror days at
high school.
This poem is for my old head-master
who on our last ever assembly, as we were
about to venture out into the adult world,
still addressed us as boys and girls,
and without a shred of sentiment.
Today I read books and poems,
and attempt stories and poetry
of my own, and all this is
in spite of, not because of
my teachers.
I might actually write about it
one of these days.
-
Author:
Tom C Dylan (
Online) - Published: February 22nd, 2024 06:26
- Comment from author about the poem: When I see inspiring, motivating teachers on TV and in film, I am often reminded of my own school days, back in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 14
- Users favorite of this poem: Accidental Poet, Teddy.15.
Online)
Comments6
A good teacher is priceless.
A bad one worthless.
Very true. The teachers we had growing up were of the second sort.
To be fair, it's probably a tough job.
My teachers in the 60s and 70s weren't much better. Some teachers are so full of themselves that they fail to realize it's not about them as a teacher, but about the great minds they have the opportunity to inspire. Great write Tom. 😉👍
That's exactly it, AP. They were disgraceful by today's standards. Cheers, Tom.
Great work Tom, I was lucky enough to have some good teachers, but I also had some old bats.
Thanks, Thomas. My teachers were indifferent at best. And yet my school had a good reputation. Can't imagine what the others will have been like.
Ere, are you sure we didn't go to the same school, they used to kiss in the stockroom in mine lol I love this Tom heart on sleeve my friend. They didn't knock you down though did they. 🌹
Yeah, my school was like a Northern version of Grange Hill! 🙂 And nah, maybe I'm still the frustrated pupil who wants to write his stories and poems. I'm still going. 🙂 And happy Friday, Teddy.
Very good words and memories Tom, I have both good and bad memories of school but what you are getting now is experience and you cannot be taught experience.
Andy
Thanks Andy. I see teachers portrayed on telly as these caring souls, and it made me think of teachers when I was a kid. Cheers, Tom.
Good or bad, you always learn something from your teachers, don't you?
Yes, you really do. 🙂
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