Almanac Poetry: What You Missed That Day You Were Absent from Fourth Grade (by Brad Aaron Modlin)
I stumbled across this today. It was on Twitter. I am very grateful to be in a Twitter algorithm that directs this sort of stuff to me:
Mrs. Nelson explained how to stand still and listen
to the wind, how to find meaning in pumping gas,
how peeling potatoes can be a form of prayer. She took
questions on how not to feel lost in the dark
After lunch she distributed worksheets
that covered ways to remember your grandfather’s
voice. Then the class discussed falling asleep
without feeling you had forgotten to do something else—
something important—and how to believe
the house you wake in is your home. This prompted
Mrs. Nelson to draw a chalkboard diagram detailing
how to chant the Psalms during cigarette breaks,
and how not to squirm for sound when your own thoughts
are all you hear; also, that you have enough.
The English lesson was that I am
is a complete sentence.
And just before the afternoon bell, she made the math equation
look easy. The one that proves that hundreds of questions,
and feeling cold, and all those nights spent looking
for whatever it was you lost, and one person
add up to something.
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So many great lines.
Mrs. Nelson to draw a chalkboard diagram detailing
how to chant the Psalms during cigarette breaks,
For all the wisdom, it also captures the nature of being a child.
There is so much in this poem.
Sounds to me that Mrs Nelson was full of wisdom, keen to pass on both the lessons of life and the lessons of the curriculum. And clearly from another era with that great line about the Psalms and the ciggie!
Thanks for sharing.
The English lesson was that I am
is a complete sentence.
How deft is that? Perfect.
I wish I had Mrs Nelson at Gowrie Street State School.
After lunch she distributed worksheets
that covered ways to remember your grandfather’s
voice
I want to cry. I’m in love with Mrs Nelson.
Here’s his Twitter link:
https://twitter.com/BradAaronModlin
oh I feel like I’m before Mrs Nelson right now.
Might stay for a while.
Every line, every idea is magnificent, but ‘how peeling potatoes can be a form of prayer’ might be my favourite.
Brad’s a beauty and he’s a little bit Bruce Dawe too.
Thanks JTH.
Much wisdom here but, oh dear, English lessons after lunch are fraught with danger. Trust me. RDL