grip that bible harder

grip that bible harder

 

 

erudition 

a backboard blackboard

chalky projectiles

crowd the dark engagement

 

the teacher wears 

a hospital gown

instructs from a coma

"Where have all the flowers gone?"

 

to smithereens

why do blue people

hate black-eyed susans---

cause the sun to set

 

in mid-afternoon

remote learning that never quite

connects to harsh hearts

the final flunked unfailingly.

 

 

erin-cilberto

8/25/2020

Reviews

[Robert Trakofler]

LOL when I read your title I immediately thought tenet tentacles:) My granddaughter is starting school next week I can not imagine putting a kid in front of a tablet for 6 and half hours is going to meet with much success:( I hate the current state of things my brother and I don't envy your situation as an instructor:/ BUT i will say if anyone can grab those students from behind the touch screen it is you hell I would audit your class im quite sure you could teach this bunny a few tricks:)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i think you already know all the tricks, my friend, but thank you for your words,
j.

[Pete]

well said. the "new normal" - sad. i wonder about education without socialization and discussions and sharing. there is no substitute for experience in the flesh. we certainly better pray that this thing somehow is eradicated ... :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I agree, Pete..nothing replaces experience in the flesh...if only we could get back to that someday.
thank you, my friend,
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

Jacob... you have made a Career of Erudition..
and we thank you for that... truly, Pat

[Patricia Wedel]

I find that some people are more kind than others... complete strangers have embraced my inner most thoughts with caring and humor...
we are in this world together like flowers in a field... we breathe the same air... refreshed by sunshine and rain... experience the same pain.
Our neighbors can be our kindred spirits. tenderly, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

they surely can, Pat..they surely can.
and you are such a tender spirit...
thank you.

[Lydia Shutter]

"Where have all the flowers gone" "long time passing" seems to be the motto of 2020. No sweet smelling happenings this year. Lots of hate, lots of social distancing, and lots of things being not quite right. It's hard to connect with people via Zoom or other electronic means. Face to face interaction will never be replaced. Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Amen, Lydi, it will never be replaced.
Thank you for your understanding of me and my crazy words.
j.

[Einstein Noodle]

people of Faith will turn to it in times of trouble and in times of plenty if wise ... those who do not practice at it, many times, will try at least when things are looking bad. This "teacher" covid has done a good job me thinks ... but none of them new ... the world is a deceptive place ... human beings are strong yet fragile .. washing behind our ears was taught at a very early age ... best not forgotten ... flunking the final perhaps the worst horror of all ... catchy title ... i especially like the "backboard blackboard" ... so many possible meanings in this one says i! but i think the gist of it comes through for all. On line classes will produce an obscene, skewed learning curve .. who knows what the kids are doing "in class" ... but the web is their world ... and they are very good at it .. who knows ... our schools opened a few days ago ... in persona ...we'll see ... i hope for the best! peace brother!
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

+Yes, who knows what they are doing or who is actually producing their work...for their sake I hope they are doing their own work, only way to really learn, it is about more than just a grade.
thank you for your insights, E.
j.

[Corset]

It must be very hard to get a point across with so much interference, I don't think I would like to try to teach a class to blacked out screens, while kids are out walking any excuse not to sit there and be seen. How can you tell if they are really grasping what you are tossing out there, but it really is up to them if they want to learn or not I know but still its pretty harsh and probably also very frustrating, to think you know but not really sure, if you can see if they are snoozing, munching or playing a game online while you whittle away the hours, when you should be convalescing... Makes you wonder if your not just wasting valuable time, your own...but at least you get paid, that helps with turning the cheek and biting the tongue or gripping a bible.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

interesting and such an astute response to this Corset.
Actually the two classes I am teaching are done via teams meeting. So I see them, call on them, we talk to each other and they all must participate during the scheduled time...so it works as close to face to face as possible.
I appreciate your words, as always.
j.

[Corset]

The reason I said that was just earlier this week a kid took his dog out for a walk, and mom wanted to know if I saw him and which way he went cause he was supposed to be online school at that moment,lol. Just thought it was funny.

[WasteDragon]

I dig this a lot. I'm one of those guys who likes when I don't quite know what something means, but there's a certain electric quality to some of these images that's really cool. Good job, cheers.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I am happy that you could find some way to relate, WasteDragon...
thanks for the visit,
j.

[redzone]

this is one of the reasons I love your poetry Jacob.... you say and create meaning with well placed words and images.... there is way to much to say about this poem, the emotions and thoughts that it invokes, from the pandemic and need to have hybrid (in class and video) education, the wanton murder and oppression of people of color, the need for human beings to have community... and each could be an essay of discussion... and you know me I love to have these discussions.... but I think this time I will just say that between the lines there is a poet who, whether he does this consciously or not, teach us what it means to be human if we listen and really hear what is said... how many of us will have "gone to flowers" before we finally "pass this course"??? I know for sure it won't be a bible in my hand when the text comes...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, Curt.
j.

[MomzillaNC]

Well penned. Remote learning is so uneven. Some kids have great resources, some don't. Some schools are handling online teaching terribly, with that rare school handling it exceptionally. It's the old educational disparities writ large again, but online for the whole world to see.

My son's AP Government and Politics class was just discussing this very thing this morning in remote learning. They were talking about how to discern reliable sourcing and the responsibility of voters to use critical thinking and be well informed.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Critical thinking...yes, voters must rely on this now...
and yes, some online classes are just throw aways for students...They get nothing out of them or cannot handle the responsibility. And some of the teachers can be lax with effort, and that is not fair to the students.
It's a crazy world out there right now for many reasons.
Thank you, MomZ....
j.

[MomzillaNC]

You're welcome