#37

Sophomore English: A poem
My patience, these students, and fifty-seven minutes.
They enter the room and I'm ready.
Twenty four minds, holding millions of stories.
"Students are writing their stories," she said (this unknown woman I'm replacing today.)
But, the first student in yells,
"Yes! A sub!" and I know my patience will crumble too soon.
"My story's at home." "I'm done already."
Chatter. Profanity. Texting.
One student sticks his foot behind his head.
"No Cameron, that's not the appropriate way to sit in your chair."
Fifty-seven turns to thirty- we'll make it out of here alive.
"The next five minutes will be silent inspiration. No talking to your neighbor."
Hope beyond hope- it works!
"Our five minutes are up."
And hope beyond hope, the bell tolls again.
These students file out to the rest of their lives,
taking the 57 minutes with them.
I pack my bag, too, paitence intact,
thankful that virtue remains.