Another poetry day

Back in the earlier days of bloggage, in the BF era (Before Facebook), February 2 was set aside as the "Blogger's Silent Poetry Reading Day," where bloggers shared a poem they particularly liked or that was meaningful to them.

I've participated most years; I grew up learning poetry a lot in school (even, in high school, was expected to memorize and then recite some. I don't think that's done much any more, but - and maybe this marks me as a little perverse - I liked it. I liked having those bits of verse floating around in my head and be able to call them up while waiting in line somewhere or something.)

I don't know that many people do this any more, but I still like the tradition, so I will keep it going, even if I am the only one.

I thought I had shared this one before on this day, but I think I've only linked to it at other times. It's a poem I have hanging up in my office, because I think everyone who has ever taught college has had the experience described within:

Did I Miss Anything?

Tom Wayman

Nothing. When we realized you weren’t here
we sat with our hands folded on our desks
in silence, for the full two hours
     Everything. I gave an exam worth
     40 percent of the grade for this term
     and assigned some reading due today
     on which I’m about to hand out a quiz
     worth 50 percent
Nothing. None of the content of this course
has value or meaning
Take as many days off as you like:
any activities we undertake as a class
I assure you will not matter either to you or me
and are without purpose
     Everything. A few minutes after we began last time
     a shaft of light suddenly descended and an angel
     or other heavenly being appeared
     and revealed to us what each woman or man must do
     to attain divine wisdom in this life and
     the hereafter
     This is the last time the class will meet
     before we disperse to bring the good news to all people
          on earth.
Nothing. When you are not present
how could something significant occur?
     Everything. Contained in this classroom
     is a microcosm of human experience
     assembled for you to query and examine and ponder
     This is not the only place such an opportunity has been
          gathered
     but it was one place
     And you weren’t here

From Did I Miss Anything? Selected Poems 1973-1993, 1993
Harbour Publishing