How will you do it….
save all these
young disciples
with three-word vocabularies
voices forever impaired?
They strike at trees
that scratch back
with brittle branches.
Should they spend their time
deciphering the scrawl
of dead poets,
plotting the elevation and depression
of angles?
Really, would you rather
they compute instead of sketching
circles in dead air?
The staircase stops short
littered from a field
of acronyms.
I am like an English driver
walking an American hallway
on the left side
directly in the path of traffic.
They laugh at
wasted hours
sing anthems to shattered stars
opting to
fly blind through
tainted galaxies.
Sounds good to me…if not a wee bit scary!
A tough business, for sure…
Well, they must if they are to grow and experience and become the result of their own experiences……. But I’m glad its you there trying to bring em something and no longer me 🙂
So true, sadly some just do not realize it, but onward we go ….
Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
Thanks John 😀
You are very graciously welcome, Lana.
An English driver walking an American hallway… an apt description of how it must feel to be a teacher in today’s world. Flying blind through tainted galaxies is equally true, both literally and metaphorically. You may be a relic, Lana, but you’ve still got it. 🙂
I afraid I am a bit relicky, Joan 😀 I am regularly “schooled” by younger disciples though. I’ve learned that you don’t need a brother to have bros, that “I got you” is a term of endearment, and “Cash me outside” doesn’t have a thing to do with money. My 19 year old son also helps me decipher code.
The hard part is working with those who have no support system, no goals, no values, etc. They have a tough awakening out in the big, spinning world. I’m glad I’ve got your vote of confidence that I still have it 😀
Loved this, Lana. It’s so timeless. Somehow those young diciples grow up and carry on. Beautiful imagery.
Thank you so much, Diana. Yes they do grow up and carry on, and very true, many of them do just fine 😀
Lana, this is beautiful! It is a precious gift to try and give the young the tools to navigate this world, to see with their souls, to be able to create, read, paint, sing…without the vocabulary one is lost, I feel.This is a lovely flowing poem with deft touches:
‘The staircase stops short
littered from a field
of acronyms.’
Thank you so much, Annika. It is definitely a worthwhile pursuit and one I take seriously. The line about the staircase is in reference to the book, “Up the Down Staircase” by Bel Kaufman. You might enjoy that book if you are looking for new reading material. In America, our education system is full of acronyms, hence the reference there. I hope you have had a lovely Mother’s Day weekend!
Acronyms seem to be the scourge of modern life, in business, education, health service…they become so embedded in the psyche sometimes they seem like words in their own right! The book looks very interesting and thank you for the recommendation…on my like list and probably one for Sweden in the summer!
They truly are. I think you will enjoy the book, a snapshot of history that still rings true. Sweden sounds wonderful, Annika 😀