Twenty-nine

Written by David K. Gilchrist

Teachers, transformers of lives and the world.

Twenty-nine

29 Faces before me, all of them brown as the earth.

29 Facefuls of mischief, each with a good dose of mirth.

29 pairs of eyes shining, happy when ART books are out!

29 math-hating pupils, aching to laugh, yell and shout,

29 Indian children, mostly unwillingly here.

29 seatfuls of movement, knowing no honour or fear.

29, waiting and watching, ready for teacher's turned back.

29 pranksters preparing, poised for a chance to attack.

15 heads, stripping gears madly, each with a short-cropped black crown,

14 are feminine faces: two braids for each one hanging down.

15 are full of the devil, showing boldly and bare.

14, as full to the pigtails, hide their intentions with care.

29 nearing adulthood, growing up fearfully fast

No longer completely young children -

but I love them from the first to the last.

David K. Gilchrist, ca mid 1950's

#DavidKGilchrist

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Image credit: In the North the Negro had better educational facilities. 1940–41. MoMA

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