The Archer Brings Forth His Secret Arrow Poem by Charles Chaim Wax

I secured a teaching position
unfortunately
as a substitute
covering for a teacher
who was absent
Today I had
Larry’s 8th grade reading class
the same kids the entire morning
one youngster was small for his age
loved to fool around
his specialty:
imitating Sammy Davis Jr.
which I allowed
for about half an hour
and then felt
time for work
OK for fifteen minutes
then the Sammy Davis persona resumed
with a rendition of CANDY MAN.
“You only did fifteen minutes of work, ” I said.
“Mr. Bernstein, I just get tired.”
CANDY MAN again
but as a gesture to his fans
he threw pieces of Good ‘n Plenty
around the room
class clapping and screaming.
I said. “READ ALOUD
and we won’t do anything
until then.”
Everyone silent
off the hook
at the movies.
“You got a big mouth with the singing
READ NOW.”
Not a word
crying
my arrow having pierced
his tiny heart.
The class quiet
each one feeling his weakness
none could read.
I stared at the diminutive lad
all my experience being:
“That big dummy Bernstein
is tryin’ to scare me.”
or, “Shut up yourself.”
Now studying his tears
I felt terrible
yet
couldn’t prevent
delight
from prancing through
my tortured
teacher’s brain.