Wild-Eyed

I cast about my class

wild-eyed

Someone must know

must have a response

Same hands every time

Find someone new

Pull out a trick

smile

encourage

turn and talk

did something stick?

Stand atop a desk

behind a desk  

kneel before the desk.

Plead

and dance

and sing for the kids

They dance

and sing back

I joke

they joke

we laugh

together we're in this

Some kids separate

Feeling hurt

Senses sensitive

feelings reeling

by home-life

past-life

life on the inside

Need to attend to everyone

everywhere

gotta keep up with all the kids

and what they need

But what do I need?

Wild-eyed I teach

teach

reach with speech and plans

and do you understands

yes ma'ams.

We push together

Strive together

Fail apart

Fail together

It's not now or never

Or is it

Learning intrinsic

Overthought until you're sick

Wild-eyed

I metacognate

teaching myself to think

about what I think

about what they think

and how

before it's too late

Try not to think about the end

of the term

of the day

of the lesson

they can sense that

it'll send

it'll burn

them away

Wild-eyed we try

And try

and try

and try

and try

and try

Teaching with a need

Even when I'm sitting

Quietly sitting

Mentally pacing as they

Take the lead

With wild-eyes