To my Seventh Grade Algebra Teacher, Mr. Cardine
Of course I was shocked
when you asked me to babysit
your two-year-old twins,
so you and Mrs. Cardine could
go Christmas shopping. I,
who spent that year
in and out of the vice principal’s
office,
smoking cigarettes behind the gym,
thrown out of school for my
foul mouth,
even the science teacher, Miss Beauchamp,
wouldn’t leave me alone
with the Bunsen burners,
and you?
You set a place for me at your kitchen table
where the twins sucked up
spaghetti like worms,
I did, too
and we all laughed;
and you left me there,
sitting in the rocking chair
between two cribs
holding your daughter, Annie,
and all I could think about
was that you knew
you really knew
how safe they were with me.
An absolutely beautiful post, Abigail. 😊
Hi Abigail. I cited this post in my newsletter: https://terryfreedman.substack.com/i/135526971/thank-a-teacher