found in my inbox today

[thehallway]

For your continued inspiration - From the Library of Congress Poem a Day site:

 Did I Miss Anything?
Tom Wayman 

Nothing. When we realized you weren’t here
we sat with our hands folded on our desks
in silence, for the full two hours 

     Everything. I gave an exam worth
     40 percent of the grade for this term
     and assigned some reading due today
     on which I’m about to hand out a quiz
     worth 50 percent

Nothing. None of the content of this course
has value or meaning
Take as many days off as you like:
any activities we undertake as a class
I assure you will not matter either to you or me
and are without purpose

     Everything. A few minutes after we began last time
     a shaft of light suddenly descended and an angel
     or other heavenly being appeared
     and revealed to us what each woman or man must do
     to attain divine wisdom in this life and
     the hereafter
     This is the last time the class will meet
     before we disperse to bring the good news to all people
          on earth.

Nothing. When you are not present
how could something significant occur?

     Everything. Contained in this classroom
     is a microcosm of human experience
     assembled for you to query and examine and ponder
     This is not the only place such an opportunity has been
     gathered

     but it was one place
 
And you weren't here.

 

Comments

[zulu]

Oh, man, I love that poem. Hilarious and true. Also, I know Tom Wayman! Uh, sort of. I mean, Tom Wayman's a prof in my English department, so I have seen him, but never actually taken a class from him. Now I wish I had, heh.

[thehallway]

hey, how cool is that? that you at least kinda, sorta know him? :) i'll bet his classes are interesting, to say the least.

and yeah, i love this cuz it is so true. i think i may just post it up in my room and every time one of my little darlings wanders in and asks 'did we do anything?' i'll just point, much as i do now to the computer where they can check my teacher page like i've told them to do.

oy.