Two Lenses

When I was young I hated school; in playing truant saw no harm. How could I throw away the fun which I enjoyed on grandpa’s farm? My mum was strict and had her way while the pied piper played his fife! So common sense won in the end; I taught in schools most of my life! -------------------------- Contest: Two Lenses Sponsor: Sara Kendrick Placed 1st

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Poet Destroyer A

Date: 3/5/2016 4:48:00 AM

Congratulations Paul... Have a lovely day... Linda

Paul Callus
Date: 3/5/2016 12:10:00 PM

Thank you Linda:) I've been fighting a lingering cold and am still running a temperature, but made an effort to get up to check some mail. Have a lovely weekend ~ hugs // paul

Lindsay Laurie

Date: 3/1/2016 12:24:00 AM

What a beauty Paul - I reckon you would be a bloody good teacher too - Lindsay

Paul Callus
Date: 3/1/2016 10:39:00 AM

Thank you Lindsay:) Hope that teaching will be an inspiration for your next witty poem! ~ Regards // paul

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 2/29/2016 4:00:00 PM

Congrats, good to see this one again, and you don't like roller coasters? Did you ever? I really miss those things. I think roller coasters do not affect my nausea the way other rides do. So maybe I will do a roller coaster again one day!!

Paul Callus
Date: 2/29/2016 4:12:00 PM

The trouble with rollercoasters is that you have to wait ages in long queues! By the time it gets to my turn I could have gone on several less popular rides with my g'daughter! Yes...I can imagine you on one:) ~ paul

Sara Kendrick

Date: 2/29/2016 9:11:00 AM

Thank you for participating in my contest “Two Lenses”..It was an honor to read your entry..Sara..The whole world needs really great teachers who love learning, teaching and the children or young adults that are there to be taught..

Paul Callus
Date: 2/29/2016 11:11:00 AM

It was a pleasure participating in your contest, Sara. So pleased to be on your winners' list:) Thank you for the inspiration! ~ Warm regards // paul

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 2/28/2016 8:17:00 PM

It is true, I think the worst students make the best teachers. They make the classes interesting and challenging and not boring. A great entry Paul! I really hated school and I am now teaching reiki. ; )

Paul Callus
Date: 2/29/2016 4:05:00 PM

You have appoint there, Connie. My first year was teaching 13 year olds from an orphanage; I was their 4th teacher (first term!) The staff wished me luck, believing I would soon quit. Those 'troublesome' boys and I became great friends...I even spent weekends at their orphanage. Up till this day some still keep in touch...satisfaction! ~ Paul

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 2/28/2016 7:16:00 PM

oh wow, I should have thought of that I too became a teacher and never relished being in school that much. AWesome, and I do hope this is on the winners' list, right?

Paul Callus
Date: 2/29/2016 3:45:00 PM

I wonder how many Soupers are/were teachers! I am sure we'd have many stories to recount:) .. and yes , it is on the winners' list:) // paul

Anindya Mohan Tagore

Date: 2/28/2016 8:12:00 AM

Haha ... destiny, Paul. Every naughty child should become a teacher. Because, they know how boring were the classes and how to make it interesting to the students.Hugs, Bobby

Paul Callus
Date: 2/28/2016 9:55:00 AM

I love your feedback, Bobby; your reasoning is well founded:) Thank you! Have a nice day. // paul

Timothy Hicks

Date: 2/27/2016 7:17:00 PM

Life is quite ironic, it seems ... It's nice to hear more about your childhood, and how it all worked out for the better. I used to abhor reading fiction, and only liked factual books ... now I read quite a bit, and write things that are mostly imagination. Feelings fluctuate quite a bit. Best of luck, Paul.

Paul Callus
Date: 2/28/2016 10:01:00 AM

In my case it is ironic that I spent a lifetime doing what I hated most...and enjoying it in the process! Teaching was also something that ran in the family (both my parents and 4 of my siblings were teachers...now my daughter too is a teacher!). Have a nice Sunday! // paul

Cherl Dunn

Date: 2/27/2016 5:50:00 PM

Dear Paul Enjoyed learning more about you and your childhood here my friend, nice work and very interesting, good luck in the contest. Thanks for your input on my poems two, I'll be writing something new on my days off coming up, right now I'm working so much I don't know weather I'm coming or going, you take care, cheri

Paul Callus
Date: 2/28/2016 10:08:00 AM

Seems like we're in the same boat at the moment, Cherl! I have lots to do and my writing is suffering. Thank you for finding the time to stop by...I do appreciate it, my friend:) All the best...paul

Sandra Haight

Date: 2/27/2016 5:23:00 PM

Such a great 'turn around', Paul! Love how you did the theme, and congratulations on your win! Sandra

Paul Callus
Date: 2/28/2016 9:52:00 AM

I'm pleased that you like it, Sandra. Your beach entry also caught my attention! Thank you for the comments and congrats:) // paul

Susan Gentry

Date: 2/27/2016 5:17:00 PM

Congratulations on your win! Enjoyed reading.

Paul Callus
Date: 2/28/2016 10:09:00 AM

Thank you for reading and enjoying, Susan:) Have a lovely day. Regards // paul

Sneha Rv

Date: 2/27/2016 3:59:00 PM

This is fantastic!! Congratulations on your wonderful win!! :D :D

Paul Callus
Date: 2/28/2016 10:14:00 AM

Glad that you liked it, Sneha...thank you:) Regards ... paul

Charmaine Chircop

Date: 2/27/2016 2:55:00 PM

Love your poem Alfred. Now am smiling, nearly all the friends I make are all teachers . I do it without knowing.. Maybe cuz I still love learning so much. Who doesn't love some days at a farm with nature and its beauty.. Lovely post that let us peek into your life.

Paul Callus
Date: 2/27/2016 3:58:00 PM

:) What's in a name! :) Incidentally I do have relations in the Balzan/Attard area (Callus, Baldacchino, Sammut, Mallia...). When young I lived with my g'parents in Xarolla windmill; they also had a farm near Hal Far. Those were the days!!! Of course, we never stop learning...I learn something new every day! Thank you for a pleasant visit:) // paul

Charmaine Chircop
Date: 2/27/2016 2:57:00 PM

Paul.. Oh gee.. I always call you Alfred. Alfred Callus is the guy , from whom our house was bought.. Somehow I keep calling you with that name, I apologise.

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 2/27/2016 7:13:00 AM

- The best thing about school was all the long holidays :) - Good luck in contest, Paul - A great poem - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Paul Callus
Date: 2/27/2016 8:37:00 AM

Thank you Anne Lise:) Holidays are always something to look forward to, both for children, and also for teachers...theirs can be a tiring job. ~ Have a lovely weekend. hugs ~ paul

Eileen Manassian

Date: 2/27/2016 6:08:00 AM

If love to be in your class, Paul...lovely write, my dear. Hugs

Paul Callus
Date: 2/27/2016 6:51:00 AM

I think you would have liked it in my class, Eileen! My students knew where they stood with me....work & fun:) Thank you for a lovely visit...have a lovely weekend. ~ hugs // paul

Hija De La Luna

Date: 2/27/2016 12:29:00 AM

Yay! Related to this, Paul! And I love the way how you wove this piece! Glad to have visited PS today!

Paul Callus
Date: 2/27/2016 5:44:00 AM

Good day Hija:) Telepathy must be at work! A while ago I saw an earlier comment of yours on one of my poems and it reminded me to go visiting your posts....in the meantime you beat me to it:) Thank you for stopping by with lovely comments. Have a lovely weekend! ~ paul

Arthur Vaso

Date: 2/26/2016 9:53:00 PM

I like how you weaved this! Very nice! I think I can really say "poetic justice" :)

Paul Callus
Date: 2/27/2016 6:21:00 AM

"poetic justice" is an apt phrase to describe this light poem, Arthur:) Thank you for finding positives in it! Have a nice day. // paul

Caycay Jennings

Date: 2/26/2016 4:53:00 PM

School should be for adults, when we really care to learn. If true, I bet you were a wonderful teacher. I enjoyed your entry and related to it. Good luck in the contest. I can't think of one except as an adult I no longer bath with girlfriends - didn't write about it though ... CayCay

Paul Callus
Date: 2/26/2016 5:03:00 PM

Hi CayCay! Although I did not like school, I enjoyed reading, and that must have been the magic spell that helped me along! I was also lucky that my mind retained things easily, so I did not have to bother much with studying. I think your childhood memory will make a good write for this theme...Regards // paul

Laura Breidenthal

Date: 2/26/2016 4:11:00 PM

School's not always easy, but it is rewarding in many ways. Nice quatrain, Paul! Really enjoyed reading. Always, Laura

Paul Callus
Date: 2/26/2016 4:42:00 PM

Thank you for reading, enjoying and commenting, Laura. Have a lovely weekend:) // paul

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 2/26/2016 4:10:00 PM

Paul, I like this poem, I cheer you for common sense. Mom's are strict but know best... HUGS. LINDA

Paul Callus
Date: 2/26/2016 4:31:00 PM

Linda, there were 7 siblings in our family, thus I ended up spending most of the time living with my grandparents in a windmill (see fb) and on their farm; it was heaven on earth:) Giving up all that was not easy!! hugs // paul

Jan Allison

Date: 2/26/2016 3:35:00 PM

This is like two different sides to a coin Paul - wise mum and son won in the end:-) good luck in the contest:-) hugs Jan xx

Paul Callus
Date: 2/26/2016 3:58:00 PM

Thank you, Jan:) I think I've written this the other way round; Sara asked for something we liked and which later we did not. After enjoying freedom on the farm I found it hard to fit in school life! In time the magic flute convinced me that school could also be fun. Hugs // paul