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And the next poem I'm reading
is for the schoolteachers

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of this world that very
much put upon group

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of people which I am one.

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I taught in public schools
for a couple of years

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before I came here.

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And I think that was my best
teaching, probably the best

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teaching I've ever done.

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I was totally inexperienced,
which was a great asset.

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And I didn't really
realize how bad I was.

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I realized that I
wasn't supplying

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the needs of the children--

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I tried, it was a constant
source of frustration to me.

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Their needs were much greater
than my ability to fill them.

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But I think all teachers
have this feeling

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some time or another that I
have I have described here,

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and I think it applies
to university teachers

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as well as teachers
and public schools.

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It's a very short poem
called "The Children."

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I heard the mouths of the
silent dying of departure.

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If we could only remember
the water before it froze,

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they said.

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Learn this, I told
them, it is not true

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but it will keep you
warm in the winter.

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My words fell on their
delicate shoulders like whips.

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We are thirsty, they said.

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Their dry laughter
was desperate.

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Take this cup, I told them,
and wait for the rain,

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put your wilted
hands over your eyes

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and believe in the
coming of light.

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