Speak Life
written for BAC2ONE 2014
I stood in the classroom
With chalk on my nails
Reluctantly marking
Red Fs on the fails.
Wasn’t I, as their teacher,
The true failure here?
So I snapped shut my folders
And rubbed at my eyes.
I watched the clock ticking
And tried not to cry.
The deafening silence
Was all I could hear.
And so in that moment
I quit. I gave up.
I reached for my coat –
And jumped when the door
Swung open and Nancy
- Math teacher, grade four -
Slipped in and said “Amy,
I just stopped to say…
“Your work is important,
You give it your best.
You never back down
And you know you are blessed.”
Then she slipped out the door saying
“Sorry, can’t stay!”
That day is long gone now
But still I can hear
Echoes of her life-words
Whisp’ring in my ear.
Because of one person,
One moment of time,
And a few simple words:
Things I cannot rewind
Have been written forever
On this fragile heart.
I did not quit that day,
And two weeks ago
I received a letter
“Amy, you should know…”
“You altered my life
In that classroom of yours
I felt I could break
Back the chains, open doors,
And ignore those who said
I was nothing at art.”
Tears pricked at my eyes,
For I knew I’d once quit
I gave in to the lies
That said I was unfit,
But Nancy’s kind words
Were weapons against fear.
And I spoke life in turn
Because Nancy spoke up.
I stood in the classroom
With chalk on my nails
Reluctantly marking
Red Fs on the fails.
Wasn’t I, as their teacher,
The true failure here?
So I snapped shut my folders
And rubbed at my eyes.
I watched the clock ticking
And tried not to cry.
The deafening silence
Was all I could hear.
And so in that moment
I quit. I gave up.
I reached for my coat –
And jumped when the door
Swung open and Nancy
- Math teacher, grade four -
Slipped in and said “Amy,
I just stopped to say…
“Your work is important,
You give it your best.
You never back down
And you know you are blessed.”
Then she slipped out the door saying
“Sorry, can’t stay!”
That day is long gone now
But still I can hear
Echoes of her life-words
Whisp’ring in my ear.
Because of one person,
One moment of time,
And a few simple words:
Things I cannot rewind
Have been written forever
On this fragile heart.
I did not quit that day,
And two weeks ago
I received a letter
“Amy, you should know…”
“You altered my life
In that classroom of yours
I felt I could break
Back the chains, open doors,
And ignore those who said
I was nothing at art.”
Tears pricked at my eyes,
For I knew I’d once quit
I gave in to the lies
That said I was unfit,
But Nancy’s kind words
Were weapons against fear.
And I spoke life in turn
Because Nancy spoke up.