Best Poems Written by Nicolas Abazajian

Crocodile

My classroom has a pet crocodile
A protector of the class
he's a hunter of bass
And a gentleman scholar
He cares about your grades.
invests in the arts, attends school plays
and greets the students everyday 
he’s a mainstay...
he plays a lot of roles,
wears a lot of hats
fills holes in education and
plugs gaps
On a single day
he may play ...
the role of mentor, hype guy, and father figure
The kids show him respect and call him Mister
But he was always happy with Gilbert

Everyday a student has a crisis
It doesn’t matter if you are the meanest or nicest
Your lessons will be interrupted; If hes available, if he can,
Gilbert will step in to play the role Of Gentle Man


My go-to move, is leaving a crying student with a friend
If it's something they can't share,
I'll leave them with a smile,
a notebook, a pen, 
a blank prompt for a letter they won't send...
Dealing with adult issues no one can mend.
An encouraging smile a gentle nod I keep it curt
I leave them with Gilbert.
I send a message to The councilor after;
Her backlog would fill you with dark laughter
But shes a master because my students feel heard
By her and Gilbert

Gilbert has Seen some 
And I don't mean the pants he was shoved down.
Or the way he was swung around
So I had to insist he only bit
But he's soft and gently and the kids love him for it
And he hears things more serious…….

I think Gilbert cries when he’s alone
the messy cry where you let out a wailing moan
Where you cry so hard you forget about vanity
The kind of crying that saves your sanity

I find my car is a good place to cry
But Gilbert is a plush crocodile and cant drive 
But I have to assume he cries because everyone has to have a process for letting go of the problems that aren't theirs
The projects and missions we can’t bear.
The responsibility that isn't ours to share
Sometimes, the most important thing about Gilbert, and me, is just that we’re there.

Well. 
I have to teach too. 
That's what they hired me to do
And I'm excited to do my job, my kids make it easy….
When I remember to appeal to their curiosity
And sometimes it's impossible not everyone loves Geography
But Gilbert and I will be there tomorrow 
And the day after and next year
Because I really feel like I found a vocation, and it’s being right here

Copyright © Nicolas Abazajian | Year Posted 2024