There's a great deal I like about this piece--it's put together very nicely, and the imagery is strong. My only concern with the piece is that the presentation of the teacher as martinet is a little one-dimensional--which certainly could be intentional, as martinets (be they literal or figurative) tend to be that way. Still, I think this presents the teacher as vicious or venal as opposed to unthinking/indifferent/insensitive, which made the poem a bit less true-to-life for me.

Joyce,

I was taken aback by the sheer power and intensity of this piece. I was also somehow angered by the picture it brought to my mind's eye. Now that is effective writing my friend.

Keep em coming,

Pete

at least I'm not your wife!!

Thanks for your comment in any case. I appreciate your taking the time.

joyce

Hi Joyce,
Not all teachers are loving parent substitutes. Schools leave individual teachers, with all their own psychological problems and biases, too much alone, I have always thought. No one knows most of what goes on in a classroom with only one teacher, and sometimes truly terrible things have happened, as we all know. Your martinet image is right on, in my book. This is an emotionally powerful poem, and so a good one. -- MS

Another thing -- your first stanza is absolutely exquisite. -- MS