The RetroLounge Daily Poem Thread (Fri 7/18/2008)

[RetroLounge]

See today's Poem Performed by the Author:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU

WHAT TEACHERS MAKE
     OR, IF THINGS DON'T WORK OUT
          YOU CAN ALWAYS GO TO LAW SCHOOL

He says the problem with teachers is
What's a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life
was to become a teacher?
He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true
what they say about teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.

I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the dinner guests
that it's also true what they say about lawyers.

Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company.

I mean, you’re a teacher, Taylor.
Be honest. What do you make?

And I wish he hadn't done that
(asked me to be honest)
because, you see, I have a policy in my classroom
about honesty and ass-kicking:
if you ask for it, then I have to let you have it.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time
with anything less than your very best.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question, so put your hand down.
Why won't I let you go to the bathroom?
Because you're bored.
And you don't really have to go to the bathroom, do you?

I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
Hi. This is Mr. Mali. I hope I haven't called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something your son said today.
To the biggest bully in the class, he said,
"Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder,
I make them question,
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write, write, write.
And then I make them read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful
over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math
and hide it on their final drafts in English.
I make them understand if you've got this,
then you follow this,
and if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you make, you give them this.

Here, let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
Teachers make a goddamn difference! Now what about you?

Taylor Mali

************************

:hi:

RL

[BlueIris]

1. Good.

That's all I've got.

[RetroLounge]

10. and that's enough!

:hi:

RL

[Rhythm]

2. I like the underlying anger of this...

And teachers go so very unappreciated anyway.

I need to send this to my BritLit prof from last semester, because he's that kind of guy, and i loved him for it, even as my hands cramped during 'exam periods'.

It's not just 'kids' who can benefit from that kind of 'teacher'.

[RetroLounge]

11. Yeah, the anger remains just below the surface

He did this very skillfully...

:hi:

RL

[xchrom]

3. ...

I make kids wonder,
I make them question,
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write, write, write.
And then I make them read.

[RetroLounge]

12. ...

:hi:

RL

[YankeyMCC]

4. Nice

I'm passing this on one to my sister the teacher.

And by the way I heard on the Newshour yesterday that the Library of Congress has named a new Poet Laureate, http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/entertainment/july-dec08/poet_07-17.html,
Kay Ryan

Here's on example of her work Titled Turtle:
http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/083.html

More

http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2008/08-127.html

[RetroLounge]

13. Thanks for the links!

:hi:

RL

[kat_kringle]

5. this produced a few shivers...

...up my spine. nice share!

[RetroLounge]

14. Yeah, me too, and I'm not even a teacher....

:hi:

RL

[Gonzo Gardener]

6. definitely beautiful

:hi:

[RetroLounge]

15. Agreed

:hi:

RL

[graywarrior]

7. .

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.

~Buddha~

[RetroLounge]

16. Deep...

:loveya:

RL

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. My dear Retro!

WOW!

Hearing it spoken is the way to go!

This is so damn strong, and amazing, and TRUE, fucking true!

What courage!

Thank you!

:woohoo:

[RetroLounge]

17. Check out his other youtube videos

He gave a class on "performing" your poetry when I was at Sarah Lawrence.

:hi:

RL

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. Dupe, delete.

[RetroLounge]

18. ...

:hi:

RL

[madeline_con]

19. Thank you SO much!

I'll be graduating in May with a dual degree ElemEd K-6/ExEd K-12 (with ESOL endorsement)

I intend to make a difference! :hi:

[RetroLounge]

20. And so you shall!

Thank you for being a teacher...

:hi:

RL