Them

Blue eyes, brown eyes, green eyes and black,
They come to me with bags on their backs.
Some had breakfast, some of them not,
Some had little sleep and others slept a lot.

Their home-lives as different as different can be,
No mum or no dad, maybe grandma they see.
Relationship issues with friends and foes,
How they focus on learning, nobody knows.

I greet them at my door, everyone smiles,
I am happy to see them, no matter what their trials.
Writing, the arts, Science and HASS,
Languages, reading, speaking and maths.

I teach them to set goals, solve problems and STEM,
To work well with others and respect the world around them.
To be organised, persistent and not to give up,
To be challenged and work harder when things get rough.

When I leave my room at the end of each day,
I reflect on how I have affected them, in some small way.
I hope they know just how much I care,
That their hopes and dreams are something I share.

When they leave me at the end of each year,
I ask them to come back and visit and share,
The challenges they’re facing, what they achieve,
Their legacy on the world they will leave.

It’s not just a job, it’s my life and my love,
It’s a passion I have, over and above,
It’s not always easy, sometimes I cry,
But teaching keeps me aiming high.

After hours of work, at night I sleep,
I close my eyes thinking of the promises I keep.
The class reward, the free time I owe,
Goodnight one and all, until tomorrow.