A Poem from a Student

Gentle Reader,

 

Part of what we have been doing with students is have them keep journals in groups of 4's.  Nancy and I tried this in Bijie, with wonderful results. We are having good results here in Guiyang, too.

 

I divided my class into groups of four, starting off the journals with a letter to each of the groups.  Then, I asked them to respond with a letter, after which they were to pass the journal on to the next person listed on the cover of the journal.  Most students express themselves in prose in the journal, but one student included a poem he wrote for me.  This was a very special moment in reading the journals last night, so I would like to share David's poem with you, too...

 

 

David prefaced his poem by saying, "My respectable Ms. Marianna, because of your guide, I forget my all sadness and troubles.  In our country, many teachers don't give me a good suggestion, but you let me know a lot.  I am proud of your kindness and devotion.  My dear teacher, thanks for your honest teaching.  I give you a poem to express my honest feelings and emotion...

 

 

Far away your hometown,

you deeply devote on your love.

Your sweet words, your fluent action,

is in our hearts forever.

They give us strong power.

Let's conquer all difficulties.

 

You are a candle

for our future,

we become tired and water us

with your colorful knowledge. 

Your sweat appears at your face.

But you forget your existence.

 

You are like a breeze.

Touch our soul softly.

Your appearance and heart look like spring.

Grass is green for you.

Flower is colorful for you.

Water is clear for you.

 

                                           -David

 

 

Thank you, dear David. 

 

May you have many people who are "candles" in your life... and may you let them know of the light they give you...

 

Namaste,

Marianne/  Bai Ling