Overpaid

They say I am overpaid;

They say I have summers off.

Class at Eight

Morning Duty at Seven-thirty,

If I am Lucky!

Five Journals Completed

One by one turned in

One by one graded

Five Short Lectures

The Joy of Teaching

Five Short Practice Assignments

Maybe Homework for you

One by one, turned in

One by one, graded

One hour to grade

Same hour to plan

Same hour to copy

Same hour to connect

To those that need it

Checking reading

Grading tests

Reading essays about ferrets

Keeping up on research

Tolerating new laws

Planning lessons

Finding connections

Building relationships

Calling parents, counselors

Making assessments

Organizing events

Coaching a team

Meeting with parents, counselors

Skewing data

Motivating reluctant students

Challenging them all

Preventing fights with kids and adults alike

One hour is over

My reward,

One more hour

Before the end

Fifteen minutes of reading

Staring out the window

Staring at their neighbor

Staring at the dirt under their nails

Picking their noses

Thirty minutes of shh, shh, shh

Three warnings

Multiple threats

It’s OVER.

Or is it?

My day is done;

My job is not.

They say I am overpaid;

They say I have summers off.