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Bury Me a Poet

Sometimes I'm amazed at the information my students share with me. (Just this week one asked me if it was true that "a lot of pimples on your face means you're horny all the time".)

One of my students this year is an amazing poet. He truly has a gift for words, and I am daily stunned by his ability to take a language that he has been studying for only two years and craft poems that move you.

This week he shared with me his two latest. The first one starts: "Bury me a poet." He goes on to explain that no matter anyone thinks of his passion for poetry and no matter how fruitless his dream of writing may seem, he is compelled to write.

I so get that feeling.

The second poem was about the feeling of desperation that goes hand in hand with poverty. That one made me cry. I understand that feeling, too.

Let me tell you, this kid has talent.

He and his siblings often keep me going throughout the day. I know what they're facing at home, and I'm always amazed at their ability to show up at school with SMILES on their faces. So many people just give up under similar circumstances, but not these kids. They work and they laugh and they make the most of what they have.

They are my inspiration.

Coming soon: the post about the knuckle-heads!

Comments

Christy said…
What a blessing - for you, to be with the souls of these young ones; for them - to be seen, really seen, by someone who cares.
5:27 AM
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