The world is a sea of gigantic aquarium
Of immeasurable acreage;
With eclectic species of humans:
Coal, Amber, Snow and Bronze;
365 score days in the whale's gut,
Junketing from Kolkata, Kalamazoo, Kathmandu,
East, West, North and South,
Hustling, jostling, bustling, brainstorming;
Angling for a mess of portage
At the close of season;
Like Jonah,
We will gracefully, and discretely age and be dispensed,
To the other side of the divide,
To interface with the HeadMaster of all Master's!
With my students I discussed the other day,
the famous line "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may."
Then after the prayer, with which our school day closes,
I heard the headmaster ask, "Anyone know what happened to my roses?"
And giggling to myself, I thought, "No effing way!"
Short Poem
Morning Thoughts On Past
Miracle Man
6/15/2024
A persons past can never be altered or erased,
But it can be our headmaster as we move ahead.
It can prevent past footprints from being retraced,
providing good decision making for us to embed.
I rested my eyes and I heard a bell ringing
I wondered what this afternoon might be bringing
I gathered my wits and peered out through the blind
Frankly, intrigued to know what I might find
There’s children stood there and they look so unruly
I sense that they’ve all got it in for yours truly
I think to myself with a shortage of mirth
The lot of them should have been throttled at birth
That bell is still ringing, it’s donging and dinging
I’ve got a sore head and my eardrums are stinging
And would you believe that those kids are now squealing
You’re likely to find me soon… clung to the ceiling
Will somebody please silence that flaming bell
I so want a crossbow like William Tell
I feel myself shaken and then shaken faster
Then… “Lunch time is over; please wake up, Headmaster.”
Students escaping classes was always a problem. Yesterday, the headmaster caught Herpes on the corridor.
*From Mr. Bean*
September 17, 2023
I don't know
How
But we let it happen
again
there are already
too many
too many angels in the sky
too many.
a girl
trying to save everyone
a heroine
a little boy
who had siblings
waiting for him to come home
A sweet girl
With the Lord in her heart
A headmaster-
a woman with too much love in her heart
a custodian-
a man deeply loved who deeply loved
sub-
who wouldn't have been there that day
but instead
had to leave the world behind
It's not fair
They were normal people
Same as us
They are us
So how
Could this have happened?
to those
Tennessee angels
Gorgeous Mr. T.W. Dog taught at the cat college, a big mistake.
They were snarly and growly, and many were totally fake.
He tossed one meowing student out the window, she landed in a pond.
You cannot do that! Said the headmaster. What planet are you on?
In dog school, we can do this, T.W. Dog told the man with delight.
He was laughing his guts out because that wet cat did not look all right.
You cannot have a second chance, the boss aid, because her daddy Joe
Is the one who brings us kibble and bits, and he would think this was low.
But Daddy Joe came by and saw his offspring shaking off water.
It couldn’t have happened to a meaner or nastier ugly-acting daughter.
He congratulated T.W. and gave him a sturdy healthy raise.
The headmaster turned direction and began to give him deep praise.
It’s back to school, hip hip hooray
I’m so glad to be back today
I’ve got my bag and all my books
And practiced intellectual looks
Today’s first session is Miss Hughes
She’s five foot three in low heel shoes
Slim as any girl I’ve seen
She’s something like a beauty queen
The blackboard is a little high
But five foot three means ‘my o my’
She takes the chalk and there she goes
Stretching up on tippy toes
And goodness how my ardour grows
It’s stockings, not just pantyhose
I nearly see her ‘not-to-mention’
Which gets my absolute attention
She says, ‘Can you see, at the back’
I’m feeling my composure crack
I feel my heartbeat getting faster
She turns and says, ‘Oh Hi, Headmaster.’
14 September 2022
Contest: Back to School
Sponsor: Francine Roberts
Everyone remembers it -
the little ones, that first day there;
for parents, that place where
the kids come out, and people chat.
Teachers too look back - that sign
of each young bud about to bloom -
but also they recall the room
that they met Matthew, the first time.
You brought an eloquence and grace,
and thoughtfully applied the rules.
For leadership in fire and flood, you'll
Always have a special place
in our community and school.
Some things when gone, you can't replace.
The Dark Side Of The Moon .
Shadow
Shadow is the first poem I had written in the year 1980 .I was 9 years old .
(It was not displayed on the wall with my class poems at St Sidwells in Devon) My parents were informed by the school that they believed I had to copied the poem .My punishment was to receive 3 strikes of the cane .However , my headmaster struck a pillow and I yelped to appease the punisher lurking
In my dark dark room
In the dark dark corner
Is a dark dark shadow
The dark dark shadow
In the corner of my dark dark room
the darkness grew and grew
The darkness filled my room
Nobody knew the dark dark shadow
In the dark dark corner
Of my dark dark room
Only you.
With her very shapely thighs
And her nice firm bum
I can’t keep my eyes
Off my best mate’s mum
We could have fallen out
But we’re getting on fine
I’ve got my eyes on his mum
And he’s got his on mine
Ben’s sat in the corner
As our teacher called him bad
He’d pinched the teacher’s bottom
Which had made the teacher mad
The teacher should be flattered
And should not make Ben feel sad
But I’m a little worried
’Cause the teacher is my dad
Well, I stood up for Ben
It’s just his teenage angst
A trip to the head’s office
Was my only thanks
I stood outside the door
The sign just said ‘Headmaster’
Inside I heard my mother screaming
Faster baby, faster!
There I was in a terrified state
my first day at High School
how would I cope, stammer and all
as kids can be really cruel
The headmaster had quite a reputation
6 feet 4, former boxer with wide shoulder
so first period of afternoon I got a call
to the headmaster's office feeling lot older!
But to my wonderful surprise, he's so nice
don't worry said he you're in no trouble
have you had speech therapy he asked?
I had at 7 years old but no use at any price
Well things have improved he said
I'll arrange transport to take you there
can your parents collect you afterwards?
sure can says I, hey this guy does care
Well the therapy didn't improve me
but it showed me the reality of my speech
now many years later still stammering
but believing my goal will still reach
( I've written this of my memory of my first day at high school those many years ago, quite funny looking back and am still following my goal!)
I HATE SCHOOL
What did you do at school my son?
Was your day a happy one?
Did you get some good work done?
Did you have a lot of fun
At lunchtime, playing in the sun?
No, it wasn’t as it ought to be.
First I tripped and grazed my knee
And Matron had to bandage me.
While all the children laughed with glee.
I didn’t like the lunch today
But everybody must obey
The rules and eat it come what may.
And then I spelt a word wrong on the board
And again they laughed with one accord.
All-in-all, the day was a disaster.
So, right from when the day had begun,
I hated every hour, you see.
There was no sun, the sky was grey.
I’d like to give up school, Oh Lord.
What a shame that I’m Headmaster.
11th April 2020
Minuanetta Poems contest
Sponsor - Emile Pinet
Screaming red, green with blotchy blue,
What it says I have not a clue,
Imagination! call it art,
If you have some then get a start!
Is it woman with child in arm?
Or some cattle in country farm?
warring soldier with loaded gun?
The guessing game has just begun!
More gathered at the city wall,
All in wonder! No clue at all!!
Boys and girls on the way from school,
They all thought it looked rather cool!
Wise, old headmaster came along,
smiling at crowd that looked agog,
Said “ colour has seeped through the wall!
This is not real painting at all!
You have been taken for a ride,
Masterpiece is on the other side!!”
“Cityscape” Poetry contest, sponsored by Julia ward
Reflection in the mirror is mine,
My image in an exposed grasp.
What does it think; what is on its mind,
Does it care; will it cry; might it laugh?
Looking at my twin; that other me,
Such an unnerving and troubling act!
It’s not only just what I see,
But unsure who it is looking back.
Appears the image knows me better,
Than I even know my own true lot,
Free, bound by some immoral tether,
Or pretending to be what I’m not.
Persona that looks deep in my soul,
With searching and haunting eyes that pierce,
Must you be so alarming and bold,
Longing for both of us peace and rest?
Difficult to listen, hard to hear,
Headmaster that is lecturing me,
To be open and never to fear,
Truth endeavoring to set me free.
Jesus Christ, blessed Lord and Savior,
Cleanse my life of all sin and decay,
Help this one reflected in the mirror,
To look himself and You in the face.
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