by Guillermo Bowie

                                                           

Yolanda Elkins had no idea what she was doing                          

Introducing a thirteen year old to Spanish 

She had no idea that her thirteen year old 

Would ten years later be tutoring Spanish at Columbia University 

 

Starting out and paying attention to the vowels in pronunciation 

Paying attention as teacher’s pet 

Breaking in and getting past distractions like the influence of music   

        on the radio 

This formative work lingered even to Columbia University 

 

The making sure that everyone paid attention 

While you introduced Mexican concepts 

Relating to me one day that I was Bowie in Texas and how much this meant to you as a teacher

The Mexican concept was of course beyond my comprehension, but it was the fondness expressed that 

        caused it to enter my memory

 

The relationship of teacher to student 

The field trip special to the lake 

With your warnings about fornication, you tried to influence a thirteen year old 

It’s the commitment of teacher reaching students that remains 

 

Spanish tutoring at Columbia University 

Attracted students from the medical school to high rise apartment dwellers 

Spanish tutoring was a regular business at Columbia 

All from the beginning that Yolanda Elkins made on a thirteen year old