This issue we focus on various forms of resignation, starting with a found poem by Akua Lezli Hope, ‘a pantoum-sonnet hybrid compelled by Wendy Bradshaw’s resignation letter’. To read Bradshaw’s letter, and more about her decision to quit teaching, visit The Huffington Post here.

Next is Danny Barbare’s janitor, who in Mopping the Tiles experiences a calm, contented kind of resignation. In contrast, Michael Salovaara’s contract teacher, kept in perpetual check by short-term contracts, must resign himself to knowing no such peace of mind.

Resignation

I cannot justify making students cry,
the disorder is in the system.
Too small to span the keyboard, hands shake trying
behaviors far beyond them in the curriculum.

The disorder is in the system.
They cry with frustration. They must attempt
behaviors far beyond them in the curriculum,
scored on wildly inappropriate assessments.

They cry with frustration. They must attempt
poorly written tests. Their shoulders slump. Some misbehave.
Scored on wildly inappropriate assessments,
teachers are regimented, punished if they deviate.

Children hunt for letters they must attempt
but cannot read. Disorder is in the system.

Mopping the Tiles

In
the
deep
and
the
dark
in
the
grout
of
the
groove
of
things

happily
like
clay

I
find
my
medium.

the contract teacher knows

the cicada have quieted
crickets now sound out the evening
as the ching dong of the community
prepares for the matsuri

the office is now quiet
open window sounds fills the room
as the contract teacher in his last year
prepares for the inevitable

the quiet is gone

the noise of varying CV formats
ranging requirements and papers
does anyone actually read them anxieties
bears down on years of experience

the panic of declining enrollment
replacing experience with A B C D E
questions what is language learning
as students hunger to say more

the contract teacher knows
this is a pen is just a metaphor
does her best to move beyond
only the students say, “Thank you”

the crickets are sounding out the evening
matsuri practice is now done
applications have been sent
worries about the family remain

For more by Michael Salovaara in The Font, visit the 2014 Vol. 2 issue poetry page On Teachers.