Sonnet (of sorts) for an English Teacher

I walk into my classroom each weekday

and change the date, the chairs, sharpen pencils.

The boys come in; boisterous puppies at play.

Homework’s not done? Well, I will be gentle.

This ritual helps me to feel prepared.

A well-kempt space can make sense of the world;

as commas and paragraphs keep thoughts pared

down. We give space for knowledge to unfurl.

Like a balloon string barely caught before

it soars up to the sky, kids let their words

fly up and bump against the window, door,

and wall before they want them to be heard. 

Students let their thoughts go to see them fly
then look to us to catch them going by.