Scottish Church Poem by BASAB CHAUDHURI

A dry day for me -
not a word written,
but I delivered a lecture in the Scottish Church College today,
on glass ceramics and cement -
I do not know whether my lecture was interesting,
but the young students made a lasting impression,
that I will remember for long.

These bright girls and boys -
must understand their potential,
they are brilliant, but a bit shy,
why don't they talk a little more?

I want students to ask me questions,
difficult questions -
that I can't readily answer.
That is my test.

In such a brilliant company of young students,
I wanted to lose my way
and end up somewhere -
yes, beyond my knowledge.

That is the touchstone
where a teacher is tested,
he may not have an immediate answer,
but he must show his temperament.

How does a teacher say, 'I do not know'?
There lies his grace.
When students confront,
he deals with patience.

I wanted to be a teacher having grace
that I couldn't be;
the rare qualities I couldn't master,
in my students - I want to see.