Another Way Poem by Jim Yerman

I once dreamed of being a carpenter…but I don't want to be a carpenter anymore…
Who knew there is only one right way that you can hang a door!

I dreamed of being an electrician but from that career I would quickly tire….
Who knew if you simply get your wires crossed it can easily cause a fire!

I dreamed of being a plumber but plumbing is much harder than you think
Who knew you had to be a contortionist to fit under a sink!

So I became a teacher andI taught 'til I was old and grey.
In teaching there are no absolutes…if something doesn't work…
you find another way.

If my students were having difficulty learning…it wasn't an option to adjourn.
It was up to me to help them find another way…another way to learn.

If they continued having trouble…if what I was doing still didn't reach them.
It was up to me to find another way…another way to teach them.

It's ironic when you think about it…for me as a teacher at the end of every day
It was my students who would teach me…to find another way.

Another way of thinking…another way of viewing life
Another way of overcoming obstacles,
overcoming heartaches, pain and strife.

Which is why I still have hope our country will survive this latest crisis…
even though things look bad today….
I have hope that people can put aside their hatred…
and find another way.

Another way of thinking
Another way to make their anger and enmity cease…
Another way to live together…
Another way to harmony and peace.