Ilene Bauer Poet Limerick

Florida's Fig Leaves

A principal had to resign
For an art teacher chose to assign
What a parent called ****
And she needed to warn
Those in charge it was way out of line.

Thought the students, eleven and twelve,
Into classical works were to delve,
Michelangelo’s art
Showed a male body part
That the protester wanted to shelve.

Now the David is known far and wide
And most viewers can take it in stride,
But in Florida’s schools
They play by different rules
So some crazy taboos are applied.

To that mother who thinks she protects
Her near-teen, maybe what she expects
Is that viewing a nude
Will make someone unglued,
Certain books having likewise effects.

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Robert Johnson March 30, 2023 at 4:45 PM Just another form of phobia. It raises the question though, is phobia good or bad? In todays society, here and abroad. The desire to make a world of black and white*is not only dangerous, but inhumane. *Black and white in the sense that they want things only a certain way metaphorically, not so much just racially.

John Watt March 27, 2023 at 11:37 PM It's just sad how clothes-minded some people can be

Gershon Wolf March 26, 2023 at 6:57 PM Tough to be a teacher these days. I was outed once for showing Picassos' works in an English class. Nothing nude or even close to it, mind you. But just the fact that it was old Pablo, that did it... All for the best in the long run. It got me out of wasting my time trying to please everyone -- and in the end pleasing no one. Without parental support, there's no way a teacher can teach. With it, he/she can do wonders... Oh, well...

Fin Chuuk March 25, 2023 at 9:04 PM Yeah, nothing is going to stop a curiosity kid to explore on the internet. Great write, Ilene.

Maurice Rigoler March 25, 2023 at 8:10 PM I saw this news item too, Ilene. It's sad that some parents have never learned to distinguished art from porn. I wonder what religion to belongs to, if any. If Catholic I invite her to tour the Vatican's collection of sculptured marble Roman and Greek nudes. If Protestant she clearly has not read of King James bible, especially passages in the book of Songs of Songs, written by Solomon who knew a lot about women, dressed or naked. / Maurice

Tom Cunningham March 25, 2023 at 4:45 PM The way things are going kids will have to wear blindfolds, clamping down only makes them more determined to find out more and they will. Tom

Ann Peck March 25, 2023 at 4:14 PM Good Job, Ilene! So, these frantic parents don't want their children knowing what the real world is until they are thrust into it! They're making art and literature erotic, so of course their kids will look for it. Thanks for writing your great limericks!

Daniel Turner March 25, 2023 at 3:23 PM Not surprising really. Not anymore. I wonder how many computers are in her house. One click and you can see more than you can imagine. Things are changing fast, Ilene.

Anne-Lise Andresen March 25, 2023 at 1:49 PM - Some groups have to scream and demonstrate for everything ... a small child knows what is behind the fig leaf ... great writing, Ilene :) - hugs