Teacher’s Lament

POSTED IN contemporary poetry September 21, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teacher’s Lament

“If you really loved teaching,” the senator said,
“You’d do it for free.”
I replied, “And if you valued education,
You’d be willing to pay me.”
Our actions show our values.
We spend more
On what’s important to us,
Whether we spend
Time or money.
Teachers are paid
For the time we spend in class,
Not for the hours
We spend preparing,
Grading papers,
Counseling,
Comforting,
Encouraging,
Learning,
Trying to inspire.
That time is spent
Because we love teaching.
“You’d do it for free”
Shows how much
Value is placed on education.
To him, the work we do
Is worth nothing.

 

 

 

 

 

Phil Ray Jack