(teacher) (human)*
* Inspired by and modeled after “(citizen)(illegal)” by José Olivarez
By michelle g. bulla and Christine Zandstra
I.
Alarm clock blasts between 4:30 and 5:00 am (teacher) making me feel my zombie state (not human) Shower (human) or workout (motivated human) Sometimes slam the snooze (human) Until the lateness of the hour becomes minutes I cannot spare (teacher)
Hot water (inner grandma) or coffee (teacher life) in hand, drive (human) Arrive on time (teacher) not late (human)
Check emails (teacher) (human) Make the daily to-do list (human) (worker) Manage plans (teacher), text mom / friend / colleague (grateful human) Make sure materials are laid out (organized teacher) Try to predict whether I’ll need coffee later (tired human) (teacher) Enter Poetry class (teacher) excited for today’s adventure (human) Hopeful for eager voices (teacher-human) Curious to read and talk and write and share (writer) (poet) (teacher) Did this go as hoped? Did we meet my objectives? I reflect and regroup, reach forward or retrench Do we need more time? (human students) And how can I manage it (teacher trying to be human) Without getting lost in endless extensions - Tendrils of intentions - Swirling distension of relentless compassion (human trying to stay human)
Three hours to go (human)
II.
Fifty-something woman (human) is responsible for teenagers’ literacy (teacher). Is the woman more human or teacher?
HVWP COMMONPLACE 7
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