Third Place—Adult
The Teacher
Glancing around the room,
Sun setting too quickly,
She locked the door behind her
Knowing the hardest part was yet to come.
A restless, sleepless night,
Morning coming too soon.
She reentered the room
Feeling she had never left.
Glancing anxiously at the clock,
It was time.
Introductions, Slow goodbyes,
Filled with emotions—excitement, some tears.
As they sit in a tightly knit group,
She hopes they feel some security in their new world.
What will it be like? They wanted to know!
“I’m your teacher,” she quietly says.
“I will help you learn to read, for when you can read,
you can do anything.”
A hand bravely goes up. “But teacher, I can’t read.”
“I will help you,” she replies, “and you will succeed.”
Working hard, they listened to stories,
As she made the characters come to life.
They concentrated on learning letters,
Soon discovering words, then sentences.
“Teacher, I did it!” “I can read!”
Later, that night, as her head bowed in prayer,
There was a silent celebration,
Quietly rejoicing not only of today’s successes,
But for hopeful tomorrows.
In her heart she always knew, She would be a teacher.