Hello fellow poets! 

This past Saturday, 5th September, we celebrated Teachers’ Day in India. It is celebrated on the birth anniversary of independent India’s second president, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. He was a renowned philosopher, academician and an educator. In 1962, when he became the president, his students and friends asked he if they could celebrate his birthday officially. He replied that it would be his proud privilege if his birthday was instead observed as Teachers’ Day to recognize all educators. Since then teachers, educators and mentors are celebrated and honoured on this day. 

It is not simply a date on the calendar, it is a day of heartfelt tributes to educators who took our hands, opened our minds and touched our hearts. 

India, since the ancient times, has had the Guru-Shishya parampara, or the teacher- disciple tradition. Guru is the dispeller of darkness of ignorance, often also acting as a spiritual guide. 

Shishya is the disciple seeking learning and the truth.  Traditionally students and teachers resided together in a Gurukul ( residence of the guru). Students learnt yoga, martial arts, the arts,  academic subjects, spiritual wisdom and moral values.

Like healthcare and social service, teaching is also considered a noble profession. To take someone else’s child under your wings and guide them, nurture them and let them be do that one day they can fly on their own, is not just a daunting but also the most fulfilling experience. 

Below I am sharing excerpts from a few inspiring poems on teachers by students. 

Theme for English B by Langston Hughes

“Being me, it will not be white.

But it will be

a part of you, instructor.

You are white—

yet a part of me, as I am a part of you.

That’s American.

Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me.   

Nor do I often want to be a part of you.

But we are, that’s true!

As I learn from you,

I guess you learn from me—

although you’re older—and white—

and somewhat more free.”

The School Where I Studied by Yehuda Amichai (translated by Chana Bloch)

“here I learned certain things

and didn’t learn others. All my life I have loved in vain

the things I didn’t learn. I am filled with knowledge,”

Thanking My Mother for Piano Lessons by Diane Wakoski

 “I want to thank

my mother for working and always paying for

my piano lessons

before she paid the Bank of America loan

or bought the groceries

or had our old rattling Ford repaired.’

Reservation School for Girls by Diane Glancy

We cannot do well in his school.

He reads from west to east,

The sun we follow moves the other way.

Crowbar.

Our eyes come loose from words on the page

in narrow rooms of the reservation school.

He perceives and deciphers at once.”

Many poets across the world have been excellent teachers too, like Robert Frost, Mary Angelou, Walt Whitman, Henry Derozio, Langston Hughes and of course Carol Ann Duffy. If you can, please read Duffy’s  “The Good Teachers”. As the complete poem is not available online, I am not linking it. 

For today’s poetics, please write a poem about your teacher; it could be your school/college teacher, parent/grandparent, spouse, child or  life itself. It can be a tribute or you could also write about the worst teacher you ever had. You can also write from the point of view of a teacher, as I know we have some excellent teachers amongst us.

Teaching English from an Old Composition Book by Gary Soto

‘I bring an invisible fork to my mouth

And say, “I eat the chicken”.

Suddenly the class is alive-

Each one putting on hat and shoes,

Drinking sodas and beers, cutting flowers

And steaks- a pantomime of sumptuous living.”

Remember, no form, rhyme or word restrictions.

Those who are new to dVerse, please note;

• Write a poem to the prompt on your blog.
• Leave the link of your post (and not your blog) at Mr. Linky
• Mr. Linky will be open till 10th Sept 2.00 p.m.
• Do come back later to read other entries, after all we are here to encourage each other.
• Tag dVerse in your post, so that your readers can find us.

Have fun!