One Line

ONE LINE I’m remembering a class I taught at Bohank Business School, Poetry 101 – The grading papers chore, The mental anguish, God. what a bore! It seems that President Swink fancied himself gifted In the writing of verse And as I’d been published – Had a name of sorts, you see - He’d upgrade Bohanks image - Poetry 101 fell to me This journeyman’s folly Was considered a snap, A way to fill out the transcript Least amount of pain. Nebulous text, No mental strain Imagine the skill of my students, Among them not a three-point Most were, like, car wash wash-outs or “Welcome to Walmart, sir “ “Like fries with that?” Minds a desperate blur “Write an original poem” I had instructed after weeks of Stuffing the 30 with Longfellow, Auden “Make it short, No clichés, hates or X-rated dates” There was this one stud – Alex Smart – I real wise guy was he, Ass should have been an added last name He would yawn Ask dumb questions yawn When I’d illuminate He’d yawn add on I’d graded 30, near given up for the night Next in stack was Smart’s poem, A ballad “Love’s Delight” The first two stanzas were ho hum I thought of his yawn angered Night’s drudgery definitely done! Then one line with…a…a just-fit word Hit my mind like a soft beam of light And I sought to recapture the title Yes! “Love’s Delight” Smart’s poem a delight Just one line had made my night