A Teacher's Lament
I want to be a teacher.
I want to teach a child.
But I hardly get the chance,
With papers to be filed.
I'd love to hear the children read.
They're sitting in their seats.
We're going on a trip next week,
I'm filling out receipts.
The evenings are not my own,
In class and staffroom meet,
To write a policy or two,
And marking to complete.
The holidays are shorter now,
The classroom I prepare.
I back the walls and name the trays,
Plan topics for next year.
I'm always keeping records,
My cabinets are full,
To please my head, inspectors too,
To be accountable.
Yes eighteen years a teacher,
I cannot take the stress!
I'm looking for a different job.
Another teacher less.
