Gershon Wolf | + Follow Poet |
Rhyme | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

International Students In the Land of Opportunity

one's from japan  
  one's from ukraine
one is from turkey
  two are from spain

one speaks portuguese 
  another korean
two speak mongolian
  though none speak armenian  

one likes thick coffee
  another aromatic tea
one tokes up on a hookah
  one fancies me    

one's here on a visa 
  a second's an asylee
three are new immigrants
  for them nothing's free

one was a surgeon
  one a head nurse
a third was a physicist
  here they'll do worse

one's here alone
  two got divorced
three are now roomates
  to split the rent, perforce

one gets splitting headaches
  another the chills
a third is congested
  so many are ill

one is quite homesick
  one could care less
another's family disowned her
  her life's a big mess

all are my students
  so eager to learn
to improve their 'poor English'
  ~ there's money to earn
  


Note:  The students all think, to a man/woman, that their English is "poor." It's not. International students are 'driven,' and in more than a few cases their English borders on excellent...At worst, it's functional...

Copyright © Gershon Wolf | Year Posted 2018

Please Login to post a comment

Mike Gentile Date: 5/14/2018 9:48:00 AM I really enjoyed this one Gershon. We are basically all alike in this world. The young folks are our future, I hope they can do a better job. Happy Monday !! Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 5/14/2018 1:24:00 PM Yup, they ARE the future, and I hope they can do a better job too. Mike, thank you for your observations and your visit, as always. Best wishes, Gershon

Ilene Bauer Date: 5/14/2018 8:35:00 AM this is just great, gershon! i love the rhyme and the short verses work so well here. plus, you've made some interesting observations. i enjoyed... Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 5/14/2018 1:24:00 PM Great, so glad that you liked it, Ilene. Thank you for your visit and your comments! :) gw

Caren Krutsinger Date: 5/14/2018 8:25:00 AM This rhyming poem was a delight to read. My muse is whispering in my ear. Okay.Sure. Now she is standing on my shoulder with her twin, and they are both clapping and cheering and yelling "hooray!" It is so annoying when they do this, but in this case, I understand and allow it. Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 5/14/2018 1:23:00 PM Glad that you enjoyed this one, whatever the acoustic interference. :) gw

Tom Cunningham Date: 5/14/2018 1:41:00 AM A lovely verse Gershon, I love visiting foreign lands, talking to them, trying to understand their culture. They're lucky to have you as their teacher. Tom. Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 5/14/2018 1:22:00 PM Thank you for your kind words and your support, Tom...I sincerely feel that I am much luckier to have them: I get to learn from two to three classes of 15 - 20 students per class from 10 - 20 different countries every eight-week module!--while they're stuck with one teacher (me)...We do a lot of small group work, so they can learn a lot from each other...Best always, Gershon