May #15

My history TA
taught class today;
the last one of the semester,
the first one he's done.
I'm proud of him,
as perhaps we all are,
for there was a roar of applause -
though
in college
that could be attributed
to delaying class.
I think he'll do well,
relate to his students
more than our professor does
(because of youth
not
for lack of warmth or humor.)
When they are younger
we sympathize more,
believe more,
forgive more.
We condemn the old
too easily,
lacking patience
for those we should revere.
Let us learn from them,
instead of make fun,
or distract from their lesson
so that we don't have to do
what we came to college to do-
that mythical, mystical verb,
learn.
Let's wish them all luck
for each year begins new in September,
not January.
Let's sympathize for the old,
for the fact that it is
their twentieth time teaching this class,
as well as the new,
for the fact
that it is their first.