This One's for My Teachers...

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.

We, the unwilling,led by the unknowing,are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much,for so long,with so little,we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

-Mother Teresa


Have you ever watched a child learn?
No, seriously have you ever watched a child's eyes glow with the excitement of understanding or
seen them work harder and begin demanding
more from themselves than
you would EVER burden them with?
Have you ever seen the fire ignite in the heart of one who is JUST learning to read
one who finally sees that
words are more than something to be looked at with contempt but
rather passages that separate human beings from savages...

Have you ever stopped to question the anger behind the swagger?
Have you ever stood so close to someone who can smell fear and lies and
tried to dodge the daggers in their eyes when you tell them...
"Yes, you can be more than this..."
"No, this isn't the end for you..."
"You ARE better than these bastards would have you believe..."

Have you ever watched a 16 year old girl conceive self-esteem?
Have you ever watched a 17 year old boy give birth to a dream?
Have you seen the smile in the lines of the wrinkled foreheads of
children who have never before had the luxury forming an opinion...
They've always been told they're like assholes...
Been treated like prisoners because
classrooms have become cells for miseducated juvenile holding
BETMTVCLEARCHANNELRADIOONECOX molding
Labeled as "criminal" or "potential felon" just for wearing baggy clothing
Their counterculture showing NO SIGNS of folding
they simply want their crowns back...
Though it lies heavy...
Their necks are strong enough from minds being filled with lies...heavy...

I see them...walking...
Slumped over from carrying their own caskets...
They are my own personal Queequeg's...
Funny...because I am Ishmael...
We're not following Ahab...
Or chasing a white whale...
(Although success could be that elusive for them)
We're chasing a dream
together...