11/18/2022 blog

A comment on teaching and three brief poems

While a college teacher, I and some other grad student/part-time writing teachers talked about giving bad grades.

One said a student started crying when getting sharp criticism about an essay. I reflexively joked (as often)’ “just say, ‘Pull yourself together!'” One of the other teachers laughed, but in a way it wasn’t funny.

It is one reason I quit teaching. That and painfully punishing students for plagiarism and not having good classroom presence.

Poems

“Heal” by yours truly

When the wound heals,

It reveals the body can recover

One way or another.

Take it easy, brother,

And heal.

“Night” by yours truly

Night, no fright.

Alright, okay

In a way.

Like walking through a maze

Of memory and imagination.

“Face” by yours truly

My lighted Himalayan salt lamp

Has begun to look like an angry man’s face.

Am I delusional?

Some say.

Anyway.