Teaching

life as a teacher, have you thanked a teacher today?

it isn't as easy being a teacher
as most people think it is

being a teacher means
long days with bratty kids
bringing work home and
late night sessions
making lesson plans
grading student papers
preparing for the next day

teachers also have to interact with
parents who think their kids do no wrong
pressure from coaches to pass students
even though the kids have done no work

the pay is low
the stress is high
but even after all of this
teaching is rewarding

that look a kid gets
when a lesson finally clicks
watching kids grow
from spoiled brats
into respectful young adults
seeing a new love of your favorite subject
budding within some of the kids

and that uplifting feeling
when a former student
tells you "thank you for caring
when it seemed no one else did"

About this poem ▶︎

Written for and Prompted by: "Poetry Topic of the Month Contest CLOSED"  October- Prompt #3
Expanded on from experience
Line Count: 28
Free Verse