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July 2018
Sylvia Cavanaugh
bgirl4shadow@gmail.com
 https://sylviacavanaugh.com/ 
I have been teaching high school for close to thirty years, both in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Sheboygan, Wisconsin. I have advised breakdancing and poetry clubs for several years. The students inspire me every day.

Teaching in America


Yesterday at poetry club a boy cried
because a friend had teased him about
being gay. We all tried to console him
 
and offer strategies. The boy continued
to cry so a girl suggested they all tell cat
stories. The poets told tales of amusing
 
feline antics. Soon the boy found a photo
of his gray cat to share with us and acted
out a scene involving his cat puffing up
 
and dancing sideways. We laughed until
our eyes were wet. Last week our school
practiced an evacuation drill. A sixteen
 
year-old boy stayed close by me. As we
walked to our destination he whispered
of his fear of being shot during the drill.
© 2018 Sylvia Cavanaugh
Editor's Note:  If this poem(s) moves you please consider writing to the author (email address above) to tell him or her. You might say what it is about the poem that moves you. Writing to the author is the beginning of community at Verse Virtual. It is very important. -FF
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