A Rookie Mistake (Poem)
I apologize for never giving you a name. The roster read Michael, but you also went by Put That Away And Listen Up. At the top of your assignments, your name read I Need Help but I took role, seeing your body in a seat, counting you present when your mind was at home or somewhere other than 3rd period. I wanted to call you Meet Me After School And We Can Do It Together, but I was too busy seeing your head down and mouth open to every conversation except the one topic written on the white board. You were smart, capable, creative with markers, sharpies, words, and concepts. Your name was Wow, That’s Impressive, but I called on the ones with raised hands and moving pencils, the ones who kept the grade book full and green. I apologize for not calling your names, for not calling your parents, for not calling it what it was which was a chance to get to know your super power because I needed to be saved ...