Eileen Manassian | + Follow Poet |
Free verse | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

Teaching Me a Lesson

You think you’re teaching me a lesson
By what you say….or alternately by your silence
You think you are teaching me how to behave
Or what to think
Or what to say

Teacher, I don’t want to learn
The lessons that you teach
You have imbued them
With your own philosophy
Of life 
The lessons are biased
Tainted
Jaded
Full of mind control techniques
And propaganda
The hidden agenda is clear
You want me in subjugation
To your wishes
And whims
Not a person in my own right
With a thinking, reasoning ability

Teacher, I can teach you a lesson or two
About true love
And life
About mystery
and fantasy
About passion
And satisfaction
About superiority
And mediocraty
About domination
and submission
About the “live and let live” policy

Teacher, most of all
I want to teach you
TO LOVE...
To love with no strings attached
To love without constraint
To love without demanding obeisance
To love without conditions
To love because of love

Teacher….you need to learn
A lesson or two
About love, life, and sacrifice
Desire, Need, and Paradise
Tell me, Teacher, are you willing...
To let me teach?

Eileen Manassian Ghali

Please Login to post a comment

Richard D Seal Date: 3/21/2013 6:21:00 AM OOOOH Auntie, You'll never know how much I enjoy all your lessons, your someone I do look up to. Great poem and message. Take care, Regards Richard Login to Reply Eileen Manassian Date: 5/31/2014 2:27:00 PM I'd love to have you in my class. I'm sure you'd be a receptive student. Richard D Seal Date: 3/21/2013 11:09:00 AM I'd sit in your class any day, and I promise to be good, well, nearly lol. RR Eileen Manassian Date: 3/21/2013 10:44:00 AM Richard...are are a tease! ;) Well...I'm ready to teach at anytime! My students gave me this beautiful present that is hanging proudly in my office. They got a pic of me off FB and have a lion photoshopped into it because I love lions...and the message...BEST TEACHER! So...I'm glad to oblige!

Richard Lamoureux Date: 3/18/2013 7:13:00 PM We are all teachers and learners, a give and take experience which is all the more affective when offered and received with equal portions of love and understanding and the right amount of humility. I enjoyed this poem very much, I am happy to be in the roll of student.Well done my dear. Login to Reply Eileen Manassian Date: 3/18/2013 9:49:00 PM I couldn't agree with you more, Richard. Thank you for this lovely, thought provoking comment. You have taught well through you poems and advice! :) Thank you.

Ilene Bauer Date: 3/18/2013 2:39:00 PM i like this one a lot - it raises some very interesting questions. Login to Reply Eileen Manassian Date: 3/18/2013 9:47:00 PM Thanks, Ilene...I'm glad you liked it! :)

Delysia Hendricks Date: 3/18/2013 12:01:00 PM Attagirl!! This is seriously good writing, my friend. Go teach 'em a lesson or two. Nice work :) Login to Reply Eileen Manassian Date: 3/18/2013 12:14:00 PM Oh, my dear Delysia....Thanks for the post. I need some happy comments now! :) Hugs

Timothy Hicks Date: 3/18/2013 11:00:00 AM Really dig this one! I can't help but think of parents being a bad role model for their kids... not understanding their role of Teacher and how their children will look up to them (so give them something to admire and respect). The ending makes me think... some people want to say "they are the only ones with worthwhile advice" but the purpose of a teacher is to teach YOU how to live and think for themselves... not have them rely on their guidance... Login to Reply Eileen Manassian Date: 3/18/2013 12:13:00 PM A good teacher is a "guide on the side and not a sage on the stage!" One of my favorite quotes. A teacher is there to help you become an autonomous learner. Anyway...all that aside...I think we all try to "teach" others lessons by the way we react to them...I've been guilty as charged myself....We need to be humble learners....