poet Roger McGough

Roger McGough

#24 on top 500 poets

The Lesson

Chaos ruled OK in the classroom
as bravely the teacher walked in
the nooligans ignored him
his voice was lost in the din

'The theme for today is violence
and homework will be set
I'm going to teach you a lesson
one that you'll never forget'

He picked on a boy who was shouting
and throttled him then and there
then garrotted the girl behind him
(the one with grotty hair)

Then sword in hand he hacked his way
between the chattering rows
'First come, first severed' he declared
'fingers, feet or toes'

He threw the sword at a latecomer
it struck with deadly aim
then pulling out a shotgun
he continued with his game

The first blast cleared the backrow
(where those who skive hang out)
they collapsed like rubber dinghies
when the plug's pulled out

'Please may I leave the room sir? '
a trembling vandal enquired
'Of course you may' said teacher
put the gun to his temple and fired

The Head popped a head round the doorway
to see why a din was being made
nodded understandingly
then tossed in a grenade

And when the ammo was well spent
with blood on every chair
Silence shuffled forward
with its hands up in the air

The teacher surveyed the carnage
the dying and the dead
He waggled a finger severely
'Now let that be a lesson' he said

Poem Submitted: Friday, January 3, 2003
Poem Edited: Thursday, February 13, 2014

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The Lesson # 33 poem on top 500 Poems
3,9 out of 5
267 total ratings
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Comments about The Lesson by Roger McGough

  • L Milton Hankins (9/22/2020 3:57:00 PM)

    I absolutely adore this poem. As a teacher (long ago) I understood the sentiment quite well.

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  • Rog’ Pile (9/21/2020 1:54:00 PM)

    So is the suggestion that we are taught the wrong things by example

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  • its me (9/10/2020 1:18:00 PM)

    werrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

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  • Dr Tony BrahminDr Tony Brahmin (6/15/2020 3:45:00 AM)

    The teacher surveyed the carnage
    the dying and the dead
    He waggled a finger severely
    'Now let that be a lesson' he said.it ceases to be funny. tony

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  • Mary Ashmore (5/5/2020 8:43:00 AM)

    I used to read this poem to kids on aFriday and they knew it was satirical but after Dnblane it ceased to be funny.

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  • Arjun L. Sen (2/22/2020 10:35:00 AM)

    I’m a teacher. Don’t give me ideas 😂

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  • Kaniamudhu ShanmugamKaniamudhu Shanmugam (11/4/2019 11:19:00 AM)

    How could a teacher be a killer. Language used is profound but not the theme of the poem

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  • mr meeeee (10/24/2019 3:32:00 AM)

    Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey

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  • Utkarsh (9/27/2019 9:10:00 PM)

    Joy in service poem

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  • Michael WalkerMichael Walker (9/19/2019 9:16:00 PM)

    Quite an anticlimax in the last line, 'Now let that be a lesson'. I like some of the poem,
    but not the firing of guns and blood. Poor taste and excessive.

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    Michael WalkerMichael Walker(10/6/2019 7:10:00 PM)

    I partly agree with you. I know there have been shootings in schools in the US, not that
    long ago either. The poet could have had that in mind.

    Mike Koxmaul(10/5/2019 10:50:00 PM)

    That is literally the point of the poem. It is meant to be exaggerated to show the consequences students face if they do not heed the teacher.

    Mike Oxmaul(10/5/2019 10:49:00 PM)

    That's literally the point of the poem. It is meant to be exaggerated to show the consequences students face when they do not heed the teacher.

    6 person liked.
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  • BIG MAN1323 (9/19/2019 7:42:00 AM)

    HI KARIM
    GYHEGBSHWGBYEHDGYEHGFHUSGHVGWIUGF

    Report Reply
    Blonde Babe(10/31/2019 4:10:00 AM)

    Call me
    07643354564

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  • Conor pixler (9/19/2019 7:40:00 AM)

    A very dark poem not young children

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  • tagibe (9/15/2019 2:13:00 PM)

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  • Nig Ward (8/7/2019 9:56:00 PM)

    this was very funny thats for sharing ill try this next time i teach my math class

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  • Mahtab BangaleeMahtab Bangalee (5/7/2019 4:16:00 AM)

    'Now let that be a lesson' he said // at last the end comes with great reply; love this great poem

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  • George Samuel Egba (3/9/2019 8:39:00 AM)

    What a ghastly strategy to give a life long lesson. Nice poem, thanks for sharing.

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  • kitten (3/6/2019 3:21:00 PM)

    wow this poem is so bruttle

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  • Josie WhiteheadJosie Whitehead (2/20/2019 5:54:00 AM)

    What a boring voice reading this poem! ! ! ! ! There is interest in the voice at all, no intonation and just dull.

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  • Inguruwattadewage Pushpadewa Chaminda (12/28/2018 11:05:00 PM)

    The poem is describing teacher and student violence thus its nice poem thanks

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  • Felicia Branch (12/24/2018 9:28:00 PM)

    Oh my goodness the imagery alone is powerful.

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