Genere Reflection #1: Freeverse Poetry

To Teach, Or Not To Teach?

To teach, or not to teach?

 That is the question – 

And after witnessing your prickly display

 With your substitute last week, 

I may or may not be on the fence.

Is it nobler to take up your novel 

And succumb to literary tyranny

Or fight against this outrage

To preserve your concept of “respect”?

To sit, to read, to implore…. 

Or to stage a mutiny upon the classroom floor?

I see the agony of the choice color your brow.

The dilemma is intense.

After all, this little biddy is so out-of-touch, 

She probably thinks that Pluto is still a planet.

Dammit! You won’t take that tone.

Not from your homeboy,

Not from that cute blonde in first period, 

And certainly not from a senior citizen in a mauve cardigan!

You are “livid” – Erm…. That is: 

Enraged, mad as a hornet, or, if you prefer:

Pissed….

You feel like you’ve been dissed 

And there is nothing worse in your world 

Than disrespect.

So you let her have it!

You pile upon her shoulders the anger 

That has built throughout your academic life.

She is the enemy;

Annihilation is key.

In her face, you see 

All the people who let you down,

The disparity of your race, 

And the frustration of your troubled youth.

Can I give you a word of advice?

Stop seeing “the man” in every pale face;

Start seeing the potential in your own.

Stop frontin’.

Harness your passion; 

Put your tough mind into action. 

“Every problem you had before this day

Is now done.”¹

Has no one told you?

You are the Master of your Fate.

So put your big-kid pants on.

You’ve only got to deal with this lady

For another forty minutes.

Whereas, I will maneuver such episodes

For another forty years.

No, I’m not crazy.

Or maybe I am.

Would me having a questionable mental state

Beseech you to behave?

I’m kidding!

But really, sit down.

Page 20—

We’ve got text to dissect. 

^{1 A direct quote from the song “From Murder to Excellence” by Kanye West.}

^{This piece regards a heated moment between one of my freshmen boys and a substitute teacher.}