The Teacher
I saw Him on a bench today –
I’d turned aside to make a way
For private chat – your man with child
Who’d asked a question – talked a while –They’d chatted on, that child and man,
Two questions asked – as children can –
Of man and God, he’d wondered how
This God of ours works – then and now.I’d listened half-attentive like,
And then I saw – reflected light –
There in the glass – reflected there –
In angled-door, view unimpaired –His visage clear, that of your man
Not child, just him, as teachers can
Talk “with” a child, (not “to” or “at”)
I watched, that part reflecting back –To when my son had chat like that
With Greeter on the beach – impact
Was huge – it’s lasted through his life –
So now this poem to his wife.I never met the man who spoke
With oldest son of mine – who broke
The bread in earnest – being there
With him – “eternal-present” – air.Paul said to men, “Take care of her –
Work for her welfare; don’t prefer
Some other aspect of your life;
Esteem her highly as your wife.”But then he turned and spoke to wives
A thought I’ve come to see (for knives
Are drawn so quickly in the night),
Is critical amidst the fight:“Respect him, for few others do;
They see him as buffoon, or fool;
On Father’s Day they beat up dads –
A mocking world now faces lads.”But often wives don’t know the score;
Unseen reflections in some door
Are missed – few factors bring respect
In husbands – so, I don’t neglect –To pass on to their wives my view
Of anything of worth they do,
That “Whatsoever things are true,
Or noble, right, whatever’s pure –What’s lovely, what they might admire,
Things excellent, what might inspire
A word of praise – might feed a mind
To think upon – respect might find.That when I’m gone and only those
Attacking him are drawing close,
This incident I saw today
Might be recalled – respectfully.For in that window-light today,
I saw the Christ – so gentle say
Some words through him to fragile child:
“Sure, sit right here, let’s chat a while”.navigation