Teacher Poems | Poemist

Popular Teacher Poems

Saturday At The Canal

by Gary Soto

I was hoping to be happy by seventeen.
School was a sharp check mark in the roll book,
An obnoxious tuba playing at noon because our team
Was going to win at night. The teachers were
Too close to dying to understand. The hallways
Stank of poor grades and unwashed hair. Thus,
A friend and I sat watching the water on Saturday,
Neither of us talking much, just warming ourselves
By hurling large rocks at the dusty ground
And feeling awful because San Francisco was a postcard

......

What Teachers Make

by Taylor Mali

He says the problem with teachers is
What's a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life
was to become a teacher?
He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true
what they say about teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.
I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the dinner guests
that it's also true what they say about lawyers.

......

The Supply Teacher

by Allan Ahlberg

Here's the rule for what to do
If ever your teacher has the flu
Or for some other reason takes to her bed
And a different teacher comes instead

When the visiting teacher hangs up her hat
Writes the date on the board, does this or that
Always remember, you have to say this,
OUR teacher never does that, Miss!

......

Creed

by Steve Turner

We believe in Marxfreudanddarwin.
We believe everything is OK
as long as you don't hurt anyone,
to the best of your definition of hurt,
and to the best of your knowledge.

We believe in sex before during
and after marriage.
We believe in the therapy of sin.
We believe that adultery is fun.

......

School Days

by Jean Woodlee

The little children in the country school were reciting the Lord's prayer.
When the sound of the air-raid siren made them dive beneath their chair.
The teacher tried her best not to show her alarm.
A daylight bombing raid she prayed no one would come to harm.

One small little girl sat frozen and did silently cry.
Oh sweet Jesus please watch over my mom and sister I do not want them to die.
I could hear the planes flying low over head.
And I squeezed my hands tightly together I prayed no one in the village would be dead.

......

Recent Teacher Poems

Less Than Words Can Tell

by Evelyn Judy Buehler

Doctor Fell taught at University Park, like stars gather for enlightenment;
And was stern, diligent and upright, like pink cactus bloom environments.

He was dedicated to his striving students, although strict about lessons;
And there were penalties for those missed, like when grape sun lessens.

Doctor Fell abided by obeying rules, feeling students needed a firm hand.
Infractions yielded extra homework, and often blue detention, unplanned.

Fell had a fair amount of fast friends. He associated with the fine faculty;

......

Lost but Lessoning

by Somali Mukherjee

The lost Wonderland

Made me break down all at once,

But I learnt what’s real.

High Class

by Evelyn Judy Buehler

I was an elementary school teacher, with dreaming eyes to the rosy future,
Like the emerald, cherry blossom season, arriving later rather than sooner.

As a creative teacher, I was so popular, as children were my pearled world,
Like the blooming cloud covered expanse, where spicy wind's lately swirled.

I looked forward to adventurous hours, like time with no backward motion,
In deep thrill of golden, new discoveries, of which none had a vague notion.

Evenings with friends, among roses, found nightingale still sweetly singing,

......

Lessons That Linger

by Evelyn Judy Buehler

It's golden teacher appreciation day, a shiny red apple;
Like scarlet carnations and roses, compel smiles ample.
To worthy ones, who helped shape hopes and dreams,
Like still silence of moonlight, when birdsong screams.

A card for the teacher, at orange sunset of school days,
Whose lessons follow forever, like a purple, misty haze.
Deep emerald days of youth, as yellow butterflies roam,
Will find you again in memory, after you've gone home.

Fresh Perspectives

by Evelyn Judy Buehler

I was a learned college professor, who was forever eager to know more,
As blue-gray waves, finding sandy beaches, turn to seek another shore.

I drove to work smiling, in those tangerine days, so glad for avid youths,
Like when dusky stars waltz out dreamy, winking to show hidden truths.

My long days were full, like the pink marguerites, crowding sunny fields,
Or the misty rainbow's vanishing, after a full sky vision's been revealed!

I was suited to my worthy profession, because I had an analytical mind,

......