The Teacher of Old

Андрей Тюков
Not to be confused with the poorly packaged modern pa-pa-pa,
the teacher of old is not at all Man.
That is to say,
tall he may be, but Man he may not.
Attributed to Blackboard, Duster & Chalk,
he looks like a Plato bust taught to talk.
I do disclaim any similarities,
mind you,
but isn't he like a telegraph post
in a line, measured out by bells and breaks,
so absolutely impenetrable in his one and only grey suit,
he stands so tall no one can see him,
or touch, or say, Hello, how are you,
for fear of being seduced into thinking
his way.
Scandalously out of print, nowadays
the teacher of old is not, oh, willin'.
Sews on buttons in a haphazard way
where buttons would be, if they are.
How I worship his bloody cane of courage
and self-restriction – it's the only thing left
of the teacher of old.
Blah-blah-blah, we hear.
'Yes' or 'No', we don't.
Teachers of old still walk that plank to the sea,
the way we absolutely, and definitely, won't.


2015.