sara Etgen-Baker Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

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I wrote about this moment because it was a life-defining, unrepeatable moment in which I had to come to grips with the reality that I was hired to teach 150 non-English speaker 9^th grade English using a textbook and curriculum designed for English speakers.  I had to meet my students where they were and risk my career in order to help them acquire English skills.  Although neither my department chair nor my principal embraced my unconventional methodology, I persevered.

Because I wanted the first couplet to engage the reader and put him/her immediately into the situation, it was the hardest to write.   

What did I remove from the first draft? We fled outside where shadows tried to shield us from the devil’s breath.   

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Poem written for “The Unrepeatable Moment” poetry contest, Daniel Henry sponsor, February 20, 2026.

DENTRO DEL AULA DEL PROFESOR DE INGLES-Inside the English Teacher's Classroom

A metal desk, dog-eared books, peeling shelves,
a teaching job I took in spite of myself.

Desperation. No time to think, just sign and go
across the state, no chance to know. 

What waited there: dust, barren land, and desert heat~
Ninth graders entered with eager smiles and respectful feet. 

Their nods so quick, their hungry eyes so bright
masked a language gap and a wall of fright. 

August heat burned like molten brass; the A/C died~
we fled outside for relief in the desert wide.

Across the desert three dust storms spun like signs of death
El Diablo trae mala suerte! they shouted in horrified breath. 

They spoke in a language I didn’t understand~
Oh dear! Their English vocabulary I must expand. 

Not books, not curriculum~I’d have to take a stand.
I’ll use comic books! became my secret, unconventional plan 

Seventh-grade books replaced the rest;
my students gave their all, their very best.

The risks were high, the stakes bold and clear,
but desperation sharpened my goals, sincere.

My students learned; their English skills grew
from stumbling words to sentences true. 

You may find the memoir vignette I wrote about this event by going to: poetrysoup.com/short_stories/la_profesora_de_ingles__13610

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Line Gauthier March 25, 2026 at 1:58 PM You were obviously a wonderful teacher ~ enjoyed your poem.

Regina Elliott February 21, 2026 at 7:01 AM Hi Sara, beautiful humanitarian poem. Very moving. I’m glad for you and your young students. God sees your benevolence and He loves it. Have a blessed weekend with Bill. :)

Kim Rodrigues February 21, 2026 at 3:53 AM Very nice, Sara! Interesting! Hugs