by Ron Jevaltas

Two high school seniors

came after school to finish

an assignment. I would have

loved to have given them

A’s, but I knew that was not 

their answer, so I gave them

words of encouragement as

they went on their way.

 

Two AM, knowing all the

low hanging fruit had been

picked, I rousted out the

ladder again, and climbed

as high as I dared; and

marveled at all the apples

yet hanging from so many

axons and dendrites above me.

 

I had been polishing Mr. Lucas

for 60 years: and the football 

coach who told us cursing was

the sign of a limited vocabulary,

and Miss Gebarski who channeled

my poetic efforts after school.

They still shine after three

generations in education.

 

Too many left hanging

unrequited, unsung, untold.

Already the ground is littered

with their efforts. But yesterday

I was able to reach out and

pick two – reason enough

to continue climbing.