Chalk Dust and Quiet Faith

This poem captures the wonderful, powerful bond of the teacher and the student a bond formed not on praise or condemnation, but on trust, patience, and belief.

You didn't ask to be thanked.
You merely asked if I had tried.
Not for marks. Not for grades.
But, instead (a kind of) effort that changes who you are, inside.

You heard the noise -
The fidgeting, the silence, the fright.
Where others witnessed rebellion - boredom,
You simply saw a kid who was trying to disappear.

You didn't save.
You didn't lecture.
You listened, in-between the lines,
And taught without a speech.

Trust wasn't giving in -
It was made gently.
Like a bridge over a stream.
That never quite stopped asking how deep.

You showed me how to hold a pen
As if it could change my life.
How to ask,
Even when answers were too ugly.

When I stuttered,
You didn't fix the stutter -
You held back, sternly,
Until I could find my footing again.

You trusted me
Before I could trust myself.
Not with slogans. Not with banners.
But in the ways that matter.

Now when a world is too loud and too fast,
I hear your lessons like repeated sounds in quiet water.
Not love -
Trust.
And that's a rarer form of forever.

Reviews

[Abhijit]

This poem is very relatable for me. I have been working as teacher for quite some time now and this poem connects me back to the time when I was a teacher in one the underprivileged neighborhoods of Mumbai. The teacher student bond is indeed very special and once forged , can change not one but both lives. Lovely poem!!

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you so much for sharing that. it means the world to know the poem resonated with your journey. Teaching in underprivileged areas takes so much heart, and you’re so right, that bond truly transforms both souls. Grateful it brought those memories back for you. 🌼

[Ayesha Faiz]

This is a beautiful and touching poem. It shows deep respect for someone who gave quiet support and trust. Simple, heartfelt, and powerful. I enjoyed reading this piece. Lovely work, Neha!

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you so much ❤

[Neville]

this is exceptionally good poetry .. not only that .. but the way here your words are so well lacquered, I am reminded why I first fell in love with this particular art form .. Neville

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you for such a wonderful review😊
I am glad it resonated with you in a way.

[Neville]

you really are much more than merely welcome ..

[michelle buckley]

Lovely tribute to a wonderful bond, beautifully written. "I hear your lessons like repeated sounds in quiet water" sublime, when a world is too loud and fast, took my breath away, made me look away, breathe those words in, and ponder. Thank you I needed those words today...

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you—truly—for such a soul-stirring response. I’m so moved that that line made you pause and breathe. That’s the highest hope any writer can have—to create a moment of stillness in someone’s day. Your words carry such grace and reflection; I’m honoured the piece reached you in just the way you needed. Quiet water holds so much wisdom, doesn’t it? I’m grateful you listened deeply. Wishing you many more gentle pauses like that one. 💙

[Ms claws]

Beautiful! Just beautiful!
The trust is earned and freely shared.
Words here are powerful
"in ways that matter"

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you for reviewing my poem😊

[Buddhistboy73]

Thanks for sharing this poem on the bond between a teacher and student......

Teachers have the power to influence us in so many ways....I liked the emotion and reverence behind these words....

These were my favourite lines....

Now when a world is too loud and too fast,
I hear your lessons like repeated sounds in quiet water.

BB73

[Neha agrawal]

Yes I still remember him not as a teacher but as a friend.

[Kady R.]

Respect is such a rare thing to give one another in this generation. And its true!! When a person is in a position of authority how do they use it?? What a wonderful poem that brings perspective on how to treat one another in general. Thanks Nesha!!

[Neha agrawal]

I agree—respect is rare in this generation.
But I'm grateful it still exists in my world.read moreI agree—respect is rare in this generation.
But I'm grateful it still exists in my world.
The people around me are truly amazing, and the respect I have for them comes straight from the heart.

[Neha agrawal]

I still remember the day we had a small fight he had given me homework, and I didn’t do it.
He left without saying much, and I really thought he wouldn’t come back.
But after some time, he returned.
When I asked him why he left, he smiled and said,
"I just wanted to give you some time to cool down… so we can start fresh with the next lesson."
He was like a friend more than a teacher never scolded, never harsh.
Just patient, kind, and full of understanding.
Such a wonderful person.

[Kady R.]

Oooo woooww this is a true story??!!!?? How wonderful to pull from personal experience like that. That does sound like someone that respects you and that is soo refreshing to read🤗🤗🤗

[Neha agrawal]

Yes it is true he was such an amazing soul.

[Neha agrawal]

Lots of my work is based on true story that me, my friends and some people in my life has experienced at some point.

[Kady R.]

How wonderful!! Love your work🤗🤗

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you for the kindness

[Fishysua]

Awesome work
I’m jealous
Patience is really difficult to convey

[Neha agrawal]

Yes, true patience is really difficult.

[AJNJ]

Very emotional. Do such teachers exist in India? I'd really like to enroll my kid in their school.

[Neha agrawal]

Yes, such teachers do exist.
He wasn’t my school teacher he was a college professor who gave me home tuition when I was little.
A truly jolly soul, always laughing, always making things lighter… until the moment called for seriousness. Then, he’d switch instantly—firm, focused, and utterly committed to teaching.
Everything written in that poem it’s him.
This poem is a tribute to him. He wasn't just a teacher; he was a guide, a mentor, and a memory that still brings a smile.

[emmajoygreen]

OH, YES! Your finely laid poem, meter apparent, has told a tale that shows how lessons can be offered, shared and learned if a teacher knows how, what and why education is. It's not merely facts but a philosophical means to to inspire you to use what's shared as both a special start and a life's worthy continuation. Plus is means of not merely inspiring an entire classroom but a single child that may never have moved on and now will do so. Yours are words that stress that education truly inspires not merely in the classroom but for Life. Here, your poetry inspires,

'Now when a world is too loud and too fast,
I hear your lessons like repeated sounds in quiet water.
Not love -
Trust.
And that's a rarer form of forever.'

What a lesson YOU, poet, have given.. thank you! I'm reminded of a time..

[Neha agrawal]

Thank you for such a wonderful review😊