I guess I should have added "post poem"

The Teacher’s To Do List
April 3, 2009

1) Write a to do list –
begin with the big stuff,
leave the little ‘til later.
poetry takes precedence over
prose, lovers before friends,
leisure before labor.
be sure to cross off
“write a to do list.”

2) Clean desk –
with one swift swipe,
wipe the whole pile
into the dustbin.
serious work awaits,
and a flat surface is essential.

3) Grade papers –
be parsimonious
with praise. don’t waste
precious time on
what’s written well.
we’re here
to build better writers,
so be constructive, be
constructive. be constructive!
but never use red ink,
which wounds the eyes
and sears the soul.

4) Remember to eat lunch –
put down the pen,
set aside the essays:
your colleagues await
you and your wit.
a good joke is far more
nourishing than the leftovers
in your lunchbox.

5) Don’t nap –
lunch sits heavily
in your belly,
the busy day hangs
heavy on your brow,
but do not submit,
do not surrender.
hold the book steadily,
hold your head high,
and when your eyelids
finally sag, dream of
a job well done.

6) Hit the copier –
with both hands.
shatter the glass,
crack the plastic,
scatter the toner like birdseed.
leave a trail of
blackpowder footsteps
so everyone knows
you were there.

7) Go home early –
leave the papers
and the lesson plans
behind; there is work
to be done at home
as well: a garden
to be tended, a family
to be hugged, a meal cooked.
and another to do list
to be written tomorrow.