Whether You Pay Attention To Me Or Not Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Being proud and showing this,
With self respect...
Seems not to be encouraged.
When insolence is all one gets.

With an exhibited effrontery,
Audaciously flagrant and reckless...
The temperity of it,
Embitters one into a concealed silence.

'Professor?
Professor, sir...
IF you are implying we are rude,
Many of us would appreciate it if you say so.
Since we have no idea how upset we should be.
You give us no clue if we should be angry...
And/or to what degree.
Or continue to believe you are insulting us.
I mean...
REALLY insulting our intelligence with your comments.
Either way...
You did get our attention.'

This is 'your' education.
Not mine.
Remember that!
Whether you pay attention to me or not...
I am still going to cash a check!
You all understand what that means,
I'm sure.

Now...
Are you ready to pay attention?
Or waste 'your' time?
All of my educational loans,
Have long been paid.
And 'daddy and mommy' didn't do it!