Fear

Fear, what is that?
I know no fear,
I am a teacher.

Twenty plus kids are my clients.
They are my joy and my pain.

I take them to lunch
and make sure they get home.
I hear their moans,
and feed their minds.

Their laughter both drives me crazy
and drives my day.
I expect the unexpected
and prepare for the unplanned.

I face angry parents, lazy students,
and demanding bosses weekly.
What do I have to be afraid of?

I must teach for understanding
in a limited amount of time.
I must differentiate and accommodate
for all my diverse students.

Standardized testing is the devil,
and technology rarely works.
My name is constantly overused,
and my desk is always full.

Planning is a joke, weekends aren't long enough
and my job is never done.
When do I have time to be afraid?

So what is fear?
I am not afraid.
I am a teacher.