Teacher

I know, now, the Russian words for flower and for friend

how to cut weeds with a blade and the miracle of

god, that out of a seed comes life

I know the length of a line for bread and the sting

of a child's fingers plucking cotton

I know how to skin a rabbit, sooth a wild kitten

and coax the dirt to yield a boiled supper

I know how to say that I do not know, though I

am old, and how you should kneel when you pray

I know how to pretend to be less than I am -

a cabinet maker's hands with the mind

of a doctor, a cashier with the hands

of a master at the violin

I know how to borrow and blur the lines between

what is mine and yours, that there are none

I know how to say grandmother,

so it does not sound like pillow or scarf

upon the lips of my children

I know how broken English sounds through tears

how it feels to be called teacher,

one hand clutching your heart

I know what it looks like for her hands

to turn soil, the crease of her brow

as she is showing me, without words

how to coax my own garden

from the furrowed lines of earth

I know to pitch the stones, to cover my head,

to water, keep faith, and to wait 

 

Reviews

[Charlie McEwan]

Another piece I thoroughly enjoyed. There is something so old and wise (meant as a compliment) about the way you write and the things that you write about.
With this piece, you have created such a wonderful story and picture in my mind. Looking forward to reading more of your work.
Thank you.

[Kristina Moulaison]

Thank you so much Charlie! :)

[Petmeds]

Outstanding! Ode to Babushka. I love every moment of this... :)

[Kristina Moulaison]

Thank you my darling! :)

[FlamingPhoenix]

"How to furrow a garden
Out of new ground"
This is a beautifully deep piece and I love the ending!

[Kristina Moulaison]

Thank you for reading...I've changed the end 10 times I think, so I appreciate that. :)

[DrD]

I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this. Profoundly simple, simply profound, it captures the complexity of how we become who we are and how somewhere along the way . . . .
Thank you for this one.

[Kristina Moulaison]

Thanks so much...this subject is dear to me. the poem is almost what I want it to be. Thank you for reading. :)