The Teacher



She arose before the sun peeked above
The lake.  She rustled her son off to school.
Sitting in her frigid car, she placed gloved
Hands on the wheel.  Had she been a damn fool
To continue teaching?  She could think of
A million reasons to quit. Dedication cooled
After each contract dispute.  Getting paid
Fairly was all she ever asked.  What weighed

On her mind were the unpaid bills that piled
Up on her kitchen table.  Tax payers
Think teachers have it easy.  Parents reviled
Teachers for being elite purveyors
Of woke ideas that would ruin their child.
She bristled at such an unfair portrayal.
Yet she soldiered on because the broad smiles
On children’s faces made it all worthwhile.

She entered her classroom, bright with pictures
Made for the Christmas season. Great joy swept
Through her body.  Students were an elixir
That cured her weary soul.  Their faces kept
Her from abandoning them.  She was richer
In spirit if not in coin.  She could affect
Young lives with her pure passion for learning.
She realized what she did was life affirming.

About this poem

A celebration of teachers, especially those toiling heroically in public schools, which are key to sustaining our democracy.

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Written on August 05, 2022

Submitted by on August 05, 2022

Modified on March 05, 2023

57 sec read
2

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABXBAXCC DEDEDXXX EFGFGXHH
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,061
Words 193
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8

William Graham

Poet, novelist, and travel writer William Graham holds a BA and MA in English and a MS in Communication from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He lives in Stowe, Vermont. more…

All William Graham poems | William Graham Books

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