Visiting The Wake Of My Teacher Poem by RIC BASTASA

today i visit the wake of
a 98-year old
retired school teacher

i watch her face inside the coffin
she is very peaceful

i begin to remember
when i was once her grade 3 pupil
in that old Miputak Elementary
School

she believed in me
and that is what made me today

she made me believe in myself
and that made her the best person in the world for me

she will not die
she is living in my memory

goodbye dear teacher
you have done your job too well.