I...Aint...Cho...Mama! Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

We all live to grow.
Some don't.
And many refuse.

The few who do,
Know lessons to learn them...
Are not often picked to like.
Or leave anyone,
Falling in love with the teacher.

However...
Those teachers that are strict.
Demanding from us they get,
Undivided attention.
And done to do it quick.
With a doing to sit.
As if to 'pretend',
Knowing how to be disciplined.
At least around them.
Are those teachers first to despise.

Only as time goes by to realize,
They were the ones taking interest.
In what we did to do.
Regardless of our pouting lips.
Or vicious eye rolling.
To reminisce them to remember,
They refuse to allow us to be fools.
Done to prove this,
For the rest of our lives.

"Listen!
And do it NOW! !
If it is your wish,
To be the best at being stupid.
Do that somewhere else.
I will not let you make that choice,
Around me.
Is that clear?

Now...
Sit down.
Pay attention.
And...
Keep your ignorant mouth,
SHUT!

I...AINT...CHO...MAMA!
YOU GOT THAT?
YOU 'FEEL' ME?
GOOD!

NOW...
For the rest of you.
Who may be potential idiots.
Let us all pretend,
This is a school.
I am your teacher.
And from each other,
We will learn...
What it means to listen.
With a paying of attention.
Without wasting time,
Using it...
Interrupting.
Wanting to be clowns.

If all of you look around,
You will notice...
This is not a circus.
Nor will there be anyone,
Competing...
To prove they can be,
Master...
Of entertaining ceremonies!
GOT THAT! ?

Good.