Remembered

How do you want to be remembered?  asked the poet

There were three poets, one doctor and two teachers present to respond to the poet’s question.

Finally after a long silence and obvious pondering the doctor says, “I want to be remembered  as someone who took my oath seriously.

One poet said, ” I want to be remembered as a poet who wanted to promote peace.”

The other poet said, “I will be remembered as the king of the couplet.”

The remaining poet said, ” I hope people will remember me as the simple poet.”

Then the two teachers looked at each other politely and gestured one another to speak first.

After a few seconds one teacher speaks. “I want to be remembered for my patience,” she said.

The other teacher remains pensive for a few more seconds. She says, “I hope that the students I was not able to reach somehow know that

I am deeply sorry I was not able to reach them. I hope they finally know that my heart-felt their pain and that I wished I could have been a

better teacher to them.”

A few weeks ensued and the poet learns that the teacher had passed away. He was so moved by what she said that he decides to write her a

poem.

Here is the poem:

You made a mark

inside my heart

many years ago

removed my fears

and washed away my tears

you tried so hard

to make me see

and helped me to believe in me.

your love for poetry

inspired me to write poems

my rhyming thoughts

you did not see

the you you left in me.

You set me free with the poetry

you read so beautifully.

you thought I was not looking

you thought I was not listening

I hope you know

you could not have been a better teacher

you soothed my pain

and will remain

in my heart forever.