Mr. Ivan, The Principal Poet
Locker Clean-Out
Teacher says our lockers
Must be cleaned before we go.
I guess she hasn't peeked inside
My locker, or she'd know.
She'd know it's packed with memories
Which are special just to me,
But they're disguised to look like garbage
So they're difficult to see.
There are notes my friends all wrote me.
That are taped upon the door.
And first semester's gym socks
Are growing on its floor.
There are tests that I did well on,
And some homework that was "lost."
There's even one green sandwich
That I really oughtta toss!
My locker is a kid museum,
A trove of useful stuff.
It's just sorta short on neateness,
But I think it's good enough.
Goodbye to This Year's Locker,
You've been a friend to me.
A place to store my precious trash,
A year's worth of debris.
Now, teacher says to clean it out,
As school's about to close.
Maybe next year's resident
Will treat you better, I suppose?
Meet Ivan Kershner
Ivan Kershner, known to students and colleagues alike as Mr. Ivan, has been writing poetry for more than 40 years. During that time he has also been an English teacher in Wyoming, a high school principal in Nebraska and Colorado, an assistant superintendent in Nebraska, and a middle school assistant principal in charge of curriculum and instruction in South Carolina. In 1995, Mr. Ivan received a National Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation. He also received the Governor's Award for Excellence in Education from Colorado's governor, Roy Romer. Schools or teachers wishing to contact Mr. Ivan may reach him at kershneri@anderson1.k12.sc.us.
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Article by Ivan Kershner
Education World®
Copyright © 2007 Education World
08/05/2007 |
