Portrait Poem

I'm a grumpy old guy who's tired of the nonsense.
I wonder what it will take for my students to take their education seriously.
I hear students continually talking no matter what the consequence.
I see students wandering out of their seats as though they had permission.
I want them to care about what I am teaching. I want to care about what I'm teaching.
I'm a grumpy old guy who's tired of the nonsense.

I pretend that I still have some patience left.
I feel the temptation to softly and silently slip away.
I touch the limits of my endurance.
I worry about the ones who will never reach their full potential.
I cry out impatient, sarcastic shouts of vexation.
I'm a grumpy old guy who's tired of the nonsense.

I understand that there is only so much I can do.
I say every one of my students has the ability to succeed.
I dream that they will actually live up to that ability and use it to its fullest.
I try to get them to the point where they will be successful beyond me.
I hope they all live out their dreams.
I'm a grumpy old guy who's tired of the nonsense.


©2013-Art Belliveau