Alseep

more old poetry

 

Slumped
In a badly machined desk

Cold cheap metal
And sticky Formica

Monotonous propaganda
Flows over her hunched shoulders

From the mouth
Of an animated corpse

Her History teacher
Once loved to teach

It was his life

Now his students fall asleep
To the tones of parroted
"Approved " lectures

He pushes back his graying hair
And sits on an old leather bound stool

Reading the glossed over tomes
Looking at the pale
Reflections of his teachings

His pupils chatter and crowd like sheep
Listening obediently to his lecture
Lining up for slaughter

As he takes his book
To deliver the death blow
To any chance they may have had

To love and understand
The mistakes, the beauty and the promise
Of history

Reviews

[Chantal-lise Mirman]

What an excellent poem! An interesting and profound take on a serious topic, the importance of History and the failure of our educational system... As I'm sure your teacher would have intoned, "Those who ignore History are doomed to repeat it!"The teacher leading his sheep students to the abattoir, not a pretty picturer, but all too accurate - wonderful metaphor.The poem flows well, although in a decided appropriate monotone. I could feel the quiet despair shimmering like heat in a cloud above both the teacher and the students!I thought all your imagery was fresh and effective. I will be checking out your other work and have sent this piece on to several friends!This is definitely going into my favorites!!! You got my vote!

[Amor-de-angel]

A very nice poem,i loved school,i was regarded as strange with my friends who hated it.
Well written

[Shelly Wiseberg]

I enjoyed your poem, great write.

[Donald Meikle]

censorship is also something to write about. (see Lord save me from dogooders. ibid)

[James K. Blaylock]

Wow, I truly loved this piece. I remember this feeling all too well myself. I was not a fan of school either LOL.

[R J Askew]

Chantal-lise put this my way. It is a well observed poem, tightly written, with a sad message. I happen to love history and it is tragic that it is reduced to approved texts. You have to be able to see and hear the vikings grunting and groaning and chattering as they pulled their ships up the shingle beaches. I can see the teacher's grey hair. Relevant in UK where the National Curriculum says what should be taught on which day and exactly how...the promise of history would not fit in this model.