Sonnet for a Student of Mine

Teacher encourages timid student

SONNET FOR A STUDENT OF MINE

You look at me across a needless rift
Of reticence, unsureness, almost fear;
Your eyes look deep inside to test the gift,
To satisfy yourself that it's still there.

And mine reach out to meet that silent call,
I try and try to make you realize
Even when you haven't asked at all -
But you are always asking with your eyes.

Well keep on looking, asking, making sure,
And I'll keep looking back to make you know
How much I long for you to feel secure
And for your joy and confidence to grow,
So maybe someday soon you will have learned
How that was always here for which you yearned.

Nov.1968