Irving's Botany
He was a teacher,
but, I wonder if he taught me,
or I learned, against my will,
what he intended?
Make no mistake - - -
I learned some things from him,
even some of what he meant,
but, not enough to make him,
ever feel fulfilled, I think.
He was a teacher,
but, more of a professor,
professing attitudes at school kids,
that most of us weren't ready for quite yet.
All that being said,
I learned some real things,
weather I intended to, or not...
I still got taught!
... NOW... That's a teacher!
Maybe it was pounded into,
my somewhat solid head,
- - - but, the fact that some got in there,
is a testament to him.
The education system does presume,
that everyone progresses as predicted,
... according to a schedule,
that everyone pretends to...
... but, no one understands.
That is a great idea for cutting cookies,
Henry Ford adapted that so brilliantly,
when it came to building cars,
- - - But, when it comes to building people,
- - - it is a terrible idea!
A mother's soon forgotten pain,
along with loving efforts,
winds up with vague disdain,
in a teenage child's garden,
where unremembered lessons,
turn into major league rebellion,
for reasons that nobody understands,
... or ever wants to now remember,
of themselves when they recall,
when they were youngsters lost in hormones!
Still somehow, lack of wisdom,
makes them wag the index finger,
at their progeny...
with predictable results.
The only hope is that some teacher,
somewhere along the way,
casts the proper fertilizer,
and causes your wayward seed,
to be a bloom in the bright sunshine,
in the garden of humanity.
poem by Barry Van Allen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Teacher, Teacher
Just when I thought I finally learned my lesson well,
There was more to this than meets the eye.
And for all the things you taught me, only time will tell,
If I'll be able to survive. Oh yeah.
Teacher, teacher, can you teach me?
Can you tell me all I need to know?
Teacher, teacher, can you reach me?
Or will I fall when you let me go? Oh no.
Am I ready for the real world, will I pass the test?
You know it's a jungle out there.
Ain't nothin' gonna stop me, I won't be second best,
But the joke's on those who believe the system's fair, oh yeah.
Teacher, teacher, can you teach me?
Can you tell me if I'm right or wrong?
Teacher, teacher, can you reach me?
I wanna know what's goin' on, Oh yeah.
So the years go on and on, but nothing's lost or won.
And what you learned is soon forgotten.
They take the best years of your life,
Try to tell you wrong from right,
But you walk away with nothing. Oh Oh.
Teacher, teacher, can you teach me?
Can you tell me all I need to know?
Teacher, teacher, can you reach me?
Or will I fall when you let me go?
Teacher, teacher, can you teach me?
Can you tell me if I'm right or wrong?
Teacher, teacher, can you reach me?
I wanna know what's goin' on, Oh
Teacher, teacher, can you teach me?
Teacher, teacher, can you reach me?
Teacher, teacher, can you teach me?
Teacher, teacher, Ooh yeah.
Teacher, teacher
Teacher, teacher
~Adams, Vallance
song performed by by 38 Special
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
A teacher who is just right
Have you had a teacher
That makes your heart glow
A teacher is wonderful
A teacher whom you feel honored to have
A teacher who you can laugh or cry with
A teacher whom you can love no matter what they do
A teacher who looks up to you when you don't know
A teacher who just seems to understand you
A teacher who you think about day and night
A teacher whom you pray for as you go to bed
A teacher who is there when need them to
Thoughts of them are always in your head
A teacher who shares with you there ups and downs
A teacher who is there for you in school
A teacher who you share all your smiles with replacing al your frowns
poem by Rosa Tenezaca
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Teacher Says, Teacher Goes
Teacher says,
teacher goes,
teacher smiles,
teacher knows,
what you have done,
was clearly a mistake,
maybe it is,
time for a break.
Teacher says,
teacher goes,
teacher smiles,
teacher knows,
that you have been naughty.
That you have been quite foughty.
That you are being rude,
don't call teacher a dude.
Teacher says,
teacher goes,
teacher smilies,
teacher know,
that you were making faces,
behind teachers back,
that you were throwing spitballs,
at the teacher's pet.
Teacher says,
teacher goes,
teacher smiles,
teacher knows.
So enough is said,
so now you know,
that whatever you do.....
Teacher says,
Teacher goes,
Teacher smilies,
Teacher knows
poem by Jasmine Aira
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Teacher Man
The Teacher Man teaches kids from all over the world
The Teacher Man teaches no matter boy or girl
The Teacher Man teaches Christans, Musilms, and Jews
The Teacher Man teaches those who say 'God I don't believe in you'
The Teacher Man teaches over demands for more recess
The Teacher Man teaches to only demand the best
The Teacher Man teaches Science, Reading, and Math
The Teacher Man teaches how to live out of class
The Teacher Man teaches all how to share
The Teacher Man teaches that we all should care
The Teacher Man teaches how to keep an open mind
The Teacher Man teaches with a kick in the behind
The Teacher Man teaches there are lessons in life
The Teacher Man teaches how to overcome strife
The Teacher Man teaches there's nothing wrong with a hug
The Teacher Man teaches the world changes with Love
The Teacher Man teaches the rich and the poor
The Teacher Man teaches those who are ready for more
The Teacher Man teaches how to look someone in the eye
The Teacher Man teaches how to accept someone in their cry
The Teacher Man teaches in more than one tounge
The Teacher Man teaches how to make working hard fun
The Teacher Man teaches all the colors of the land
But, most important of all, he teaches we should take a stand
Take a Stand, Take a Stand, for what you believe
Take a Stand, Take a Stand, and you will be free
Take a Stand, Take a Stand, for the least of the least
Take such Stand man, and you will find peace
He's the Teacher Man
poem by Ary Bolanos
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A Good teacher
A Good teacher is one, who teaches with love.
A Good teacher is one, who Corrects Students and make them Grow, Instead of shouting and making them slow.
A Good teacher is one, who makes Things to Flow.
A Good teacher is one, who gets things done as and when.
A Good teacher is one, who never treats a student as Foe.
A Good teacher is one, who Teachings must help in long Run.
A Good teacher is one, who says always it can be done.
A Good teacher is one, who should never make students Run, Instead have Great Fun.
A Good teacher is one, who must be always Bright and Teach Students Right.
A Good teacher is one, who is always a best Friend
poem by Narendra Kuppan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Teacher, Teacher
Teacher, teacher, teacher, teach me now
Teacher, teacher, teacher, guide me now
Teacher, teacher, teacher, show the way
You are my light
You are my guide.
Teacher, teacher, teacher, comfort me
Give your listening ears when I cry
Help me find the strength in what I can
You are my help
You are my guide.
Teacher, teacher, teacher, build me up
When I do wrong, show me what is right
Teacher, teacher, teacher, let us laugh
You are my friend
You are my guide.
poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A Teacher for All Seasons
A Teacher for All Seasons
A teacher is like Spring,
Who nurtures new green sprouts,
Encourages and leads them,
Whenever they have doubts.
A teacher is like Summer,
Whose sunny temperament
Makes studying a pleasure,
Preventing discontent.
A teacher is like Fall,
With methods crisp and clear,
Lessons of bright colors
And a happy atmosphere.
A teacher is like Winter,
While it’s snowing hard outside,
Keeping students comfortable,
As a warm and helpful guide.
Teacher, you do all these things,
With a pleasant attitude;
You’re a teacher for all seasons,
And you have my gratitude!
poem by vince III tamani
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A bad or a good teacher
A bad teacher is negatively pessimistic
A good teacher is positively optimistic
A bad teacher swears all the time
A good teacher cares in their prime
A bad teacher passes on rude fear
A good teacher has on good ears
A bad teacher discourages
A good teacher encourages
A bad teacher despairs
A good teacher prepares
A bad teacher likes to bitch
A good teacher likes to teach
A bad teacher shouts every moment
A good teacher scouts for every talent
A bad teacher is up for crude devices
A good teacher is up for good advice
A bad teacher lets students fight on in the dark
A good teacher sets students on the right track
A bad teacher feeds on their looks
A good teachers reads many books
A bad teacher sings along with wrong faults
A good teacher brings along the right results
Copyright 2006 - Sylvia Chidi
www.sylviachidi.co.uk
poem by Sylvia Chidi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Teacher, Teacher
Teacher, teacher
I may not love you
But you're the teacher
I try to do what you want me to
I know you get lonely
But you gotta know
It wasn't love
Let me tell you honey
I'm just a young girl
Don't think I know it enough
Teacher, teacher
I don't wanna get an A
Teacher, teacher
There's gotta be a better way
I'm sick and tired of makin' plans
Without makin' up my mind (Make up your mind)
Teacher, teacher
Can't you see I just need a little time
I know you've been cryin'
Just think that you're not alone
Just cry me a river
It's what you'll deliver
We have to do it on the floor
Teacher, teacher
I don't wanna get an A
Teacher, teacher
There's gotta be a better way
(Woohoo, yeah)
Teacher, teacher
I've been tryin' to get you down
But why should you get used to somebody
Who won't be around
I know you get discouraged
Cause you wanna do it all the time
Honey I can't let you use my body
The same way you use my mind
Teacher, teacher
I don't wanna get an A
Teacher, teacher
There's gotta be a better way
[repeats to end]
song performed by by Prince
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
For A Teacher
teacher o so wise all do cry of the
bounty sweet words flowing ever
from your lips.
teacher of the bright lights in Brazil
such students are thrilled by
your love of them.
teacher so skilled wayward the
path you haven chosen
to share.
teacher high in canopy tops from
the winds your hand does hold
the keys for tomorrow.
Teacher, its me now, I am full of you,
still you must teach me more, I wait..
poem by Is It Poetry
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
a mouse teaches Diogenes
You see Diogenes living in the slums. He lives in a barrel. This is the man even Alexander the Great admires. So it makes you wonder about Diogenes.
So you pretend to be there quite by accident and you ask: “Diogenes…Who was your teacher? ”
“A mouse was my teacher, ” says Diogenes.
You are quite confused. And you say: 'A mouse is your teacher? And how is that, Diogenes? '
“Well, most exquisite Sir, ” says Diogenes to you. “Most cultured Sir, ” he says. “I had no home and I was in the streets. I almost killed myself. Then I saw mouse. Mouse ran around and looked for food and it found some and I observed mouse for over two days. And I realized how resourceful mouse was. And then I said to myself: ‘Learn of the mouse, Diogenes- and all will be well.’ And so I learned of mouse. And every time I have a problem, I simply ask myself: ‘How will mouse solve this? ’ And so mouse became my teacher. And now, most Exquisite Sir, I have a problem. You. I want to get rid of you and I ask myself: ‘How would mouse solve this problem? ’ He would bite…”
You listen to this and you are afraid – and you run. And Diogenes has done well; he has learned well from his teacher. And you can hear him shouting to you: “By the way, who was your teacher? ”
poem by Raj Arumugam
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Help, Please Help, Teacher!
Algebra, algebra—it doesn’t make sense,
Numbers and variables combined in strange ways,
With symbols and signs—parentheses too,
My footing is lost, I feel stuck in glue,
Help, please help teacher— I’m depending on you!
Then there’s those lines, formulas strange,
Point-slope, slope-intercept, that many the days,
I sat there and wondered, why do this to me?
I’m clueless, I’m fried, I’m ready to flee,
Help, please help teacher—I’m going to scream.
Absolute value, never negative we’re told,
But inser a variable and I’ve lost my hold.
It’s x—no it’s negative x—c’mon what’s the deal?
I must be dreaming, this can’t be real!
Help, please help teacher—help me to feel.
Onto the galleries, where radicals repose,
Irrational demons whose nature confirms,
The essence of difficulty, why try to fight?
We struggle, we labor, their cause to make right,
Help, please help teacher, I’m losing my might.
Then came the quadratic, with roots complex and real,
B2 - 4AC the discriminant we learned,
It baffled the ablest, the roots to extract,
Others sat paralyzed—and this is a fact!
Help, please help teacher, keep us intact!
Polynomials—those creatures, they lurk in the dark,
Harassing and scaring, no walk in the park.
Add them and multiply, exponents confuse,
Like terms, unlike terms, how dare you refuse?
Help, please help teacher—give me some clues.
Then all of those monsters, we find in some words,
Whose meaning we labor to extract from their core,
We scream, we yell, we can’t take any more,
These word problems kill us, they rankle our brain,
Help, please help teacher, spare us this pain.
Thus onwards we toil, this subject to learn,
Our pencils are sharpened, our notebooks secure.
And learn it we must—no sense to rebut,
Alternatives unpleasant—why sink in this rut?
Help, please help teacher, help us make your first cut.
So on go the lessons, the learning stops not,
Our wounds bathed in dressings, our pain masked with salve,
The teacher’s emollients, applied with such grace,
That none of us ever, could ever lose face,
You’ve helped us dear teacher—we’ve finished the race!
The world we now enter, secure in its mists,
We shout with such glory, we clench tight our fists.
The math that you taught us has helped us to see,
How good we’ve become and how good we can be.
Thank you great teacher, you’ve filled us with glee.
poem by Joe Pagano
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
My Teacher...II
Explains each lesson again and again,
has headache but ignores her pain.
Yells, goes mad, throws things,
never she does.
Heart of patience has my teacher.
Her lessons, words and actions are a pleasure,
than any of a treasure.
Understands me the best,
cares and loves me more than the rest.
Precious to me is my teacher.
poem by Premeer S.R
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Supply Teacher
Here's the rule for what to do
If ever your teacher has the flu
Or for some other reason takes to her bed
And a different teacher comes instead
When the visiting teacher hangs up her hat
Writes the date on the board, does this or that
Always remember, you have to say this,
OUR teacher never does that, Miss!
When you want to change places or wander about
Or feel like getting the guinea pig out
Never forget, the message is this,
OUR teacher always lets us, Miss!
Then, when your teacher returns next day
And complains about the paint or clay
Remember these words, you just say this:
That OTHER teacher told us to, Miss!
poem by Allan Ahlberg
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Gradation of The Institutions
Does the teacher want the child to learn?
It is the kindergarten.
Does the teacher expect it to learn?
It is the school.
Does the teacher suppose it learns?
It is the college
Is the teacher indifferent to its learning?
It is the university.
Is the institution not bothered at all?
It is the distance education.
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Your grandchild has tougher lessons to teach
When your child was born
You might have learned certain lessons
As he or she was growing
The child would have been
Teaching lessons
Which you were not learning
From anywhere else
You would have found the lessons
Tough and difficult to absorb
As basics and fundamentals
Language used by the faculty
Methodology of teaching
Were quite different
Most of the time unstructured
Unmindful of your moods
The teacher would have kept you
Loaded with lessons difficult to decipher
The classes were far unique and
Very specially different
From any of the formal institution
Which were preparing you
For making a life
The lessons here aimed at
Making you live fully alive and aware of
Absolute realities
You would agree
Learning these never made you tired
And you were enthusiastically looking for
New lessons to come up
By the time
Your child has grown up
And stopped teaching you any further
Your grand child arrives
Now the lessons turn tougher still
Despite all the experiences in life and living
Your learning is quite difficult now
The teacher is in a great hurry
And often keeps changing
The course of lessons
You find new reasons
For things happening around
And you see yourself
In new enthusiasm
Which you feel will help you live
Longer still
With enough energy, strength and skill
In spite of the fact that
Your grandchild has tougher lessons to teach
poem by Bashyam Narayanan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
In memory of a great teacher
I know not of a man better than him
a man of morals and purity
my best teacher and example in life
I love him more than myself
he taught me how to be kind
and help the poor
I can't be a bad person,
when he is my teacher
I follow him in every single act
because he is the best teacher ever
never he lied and never rebuked anyone
he called for women and human rights,
thousand years ago.
I help the orphans and support charity,
because he is my best example.
he lightens my whole life
and I'm happy for having such a precious teacher
he is a timeless teacher,
a teacher of all ages
he is prophet Mohammed peace be upon him
poem by Rehab Helmy
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Hot For Teacher
Spoken:
Oh wow, man !
Wait a second man. whaddaya think the teachers gonna look like this year ?
My butt, man !
T-t-teacher stop that screaming, teacher dont you see ?
Dont wanna be no uptown fool.
Maybe I should go to hell, but Im doin well,
Teacher needs to see me after school.
Chorus:
I think of all the education that I missed.
But then my homework was never quite like this.
Got it bad, got it bad, got it bad,
Im hot for teacher.
I got it bad, so bad,
Im hot for teacher.
Spoken:
Hey, I heard you missed us, were back !
I brought my pencil
Gimme something to write on, man
I heard about your lessons, but lessons are so cold.
I know about this school.
Little girl from cherry lane, how did you get so bold ?
How did you know that golden rule ?
Chorus
(guitar solo)
Oh man, I think the clock is slow
I dont feel tardy
Class dismissed
song performed by by Van Halen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Two birds on the same tree
Two birds rest on the same tree;
their eyes are bright;
they look alike; yet one
is the Teacher; one the Student;
the Student tastes all the many fruits
upon that tree; the Teacher sits, just watches,
filled with love and pride;
the eyes of both are bright;
when the Student has tasted all,
the Teacher asks what has been learnt; for
only the Teacher knows within their heart:
that now the Student is the teacher;
the Teacher listens as a student;
the Student speaks now as a teacher
who has learned this of themself;
the Teacher’s eyes are bright:
knowing that to live it through
shows the knowledge to be true;
the Student is teaching the Teacher now, of
how to teach; the Teacher glows to know
the Student may surpass the Teacher;
knowledge shines from both their eyes;
who is the more glorious of these two
who share both the same name?
who rejoice to need the other;
who rejoice to be the other;
now they are silent; now the tree’s rejoicing too;
Its roots above; its fruits below;
its leaves, a shelter;
its branches, home.
*
[ Leaning on a poem of Kabir: Indian readers will be familiar with
'two birds in a tree' as a metaphor for acting with detachment; Kabir takes this further, into knowledge gained from wise action...]
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Supervision
The teacher prayed to God above for wisdom day-by-day,
For only He had perfect love and insights to relay.
The teacher saw the vision come and looked at it amazed,
For it was meant for all not some, yet not a word was phrased.
From clouds on high, the book birds flew about the teacher's head
And some of these the teacher knew, for they were fondly read.
Then other book birds circled round with titles yet unknown,
With treasure chests as yet unfound, with cherished truths unshown.
Imagine books left on the shelves, unread, unshared for years...
Deprived of these to help ourselves, no thoughts between our ears.
What use would Mankind ever gain if great books were not read?
The teacher thanked God for the brain that chose not to be dead.
And so it was, the teacher smiled! The course ahead made sense.
From now on, books for every child, for families and friends.
In every language known to Man, God's Word can preach Good News,
If we but do the best we can to help each student choose.
The teacher's heart was filled with hope with all God had revealed,
For books would help the students cope, as if each were a shield.
Both fact and fiction serve us well, if willing we would be
To learn the lessons that they tell, for truth shall set us free!
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!