A Poem to my Students

Love is Not Illegal
in the Ghetto

There was a student once
who refused to shake my hand.
He was afraid of love from a teacher
and this I can understand.
For he had learned that toughness
and hatred are what make a man.

In his eyes men fought wars,
and worked on cars.
He learned this from a father
who was constantly behind bars.
The ghetto had taken his love
and spared him only the scars.

There was a girl too
who pushed my love away.
Love scared her to death,
and it still does to this day.
Because she sees love as temporary
and knows it won’t stay.

She learned early on that men lie about love
to get what they desire.
In her eyes my love was not real
I was simply another liar.
Once again the ghetto
had extinguished love’s fire.

But this is a poem about other students,
more in fact.
Who not only accept my love
but also give it back.
They are like that rose in the concrete
growing from the crack.

Because these students are beating the street
and overcoming negativity.
They focus on the love
and not the animosity.
Nothing will stop these students
from attending a university.

Now don’t get me wrong
these students experience drama too.
They’ve had haters, lost love,
and found friends who were not true.
Yet they handle their drama with maturity
so you wouldn’t have a clue
that they are so similar
to you.

It’s time then, for me to thank these students
I shouldn’t have to say your name
you know who you are just the same
And you don’t show me love for recognition or fame.

I want to say thank you for the little things
like shaking my hand before class
like saying hello and smiling
whenever we’d pass.

I want to say thank you
for the important things as well
from following your dreams
to sharing things that were difficult to tell.

I want to say thank you
for overcoming the stereotypes
for being yourself
and ignoring the hype

I want to say thank you
for all the love and respect
What you’ve given me
Is much more than I could ever expect.

Finally, you need to know this:

No group of students has inspired me
the way that you do
And by giving you all that I have
I hope I’ve inspired you too.