Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WHY DISTRICT SCHOOL USED TO KEEP IN VERMONT, by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY Poet's Biography First Line: When district school was almost done Last Line: From which she bought her watch and chain. Subject(s): Children; Schools; Teaching & Teachers; Vermont; Childhood; Students; Educators; Professors | ||||||||
WHEN district school was almost done I used to feel tremendous good; My hands was tired with doing sums I never quarter understood; I couldn't see why school should keep, But now I'm twelve, it's jest as plain It kept so teacher'd have a chance To use her golden watch and chain. I never saw as neat a watch Excepting once at Woodstock Fair; It opened like my 'rithmetic In front or back or anywhere; And Gee! it used to shine so bright Frank Perkins said it scorched his brain There wouldn't been much school, I guess, If teacher'd had no watch and chain. The chain was sure the longest one There was in all our part of town; It went way up behind her neck, And made a turn and then come down; And on it was a slide that looked Like some big Spanish fly from Spain No wonder teacher liked to teach With such a dandy watch and chain. When little Tim went up to read She'd put one hand around his side, And with the other hand she'd grasp That insectiverous-looking slide; When Tim said A, she'd slip it up; At B, she'd slip it down again You see, he'd never learnt to read If teacher'd had no watch and chain. She'd wind that watch 'most every hour Then flash it up against her ear; Then use it for a looking glass To see her eyes and skin was clear; And always when she used to say "Examples: number one, explain:" We noticed, Edson Purse and me, She timed us with her watch and chain. One day she showed us after school Her 'nitials ringwormed on the case, And Ida Gardner saw inside The picture of a feller's face: And Ida said, "Why, that's the man That met you, teacher, at the train;" But teacher thought it was the man From which she bought her watch and chain. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CORRESPONDENCE-SCHOOL INSTRUCTOR SAYS GOODBYE TO HIS POETRY STUDENTS by GALWAY KINNELL GRATITUDE TO OLD TEACHERS by ROBERT BLY TWO RAMAGES FOR OLD MASTERS by ROBERT BLY ON FLUNKING A NICE BOY OUT OF SCHOOL by JOHN CIARDI HER MONOLOGUE OF DARK CREPE WITH EDGES OF LIGHT by NORMAN DUBIE OF POLITICS, & ART by NORMAN DUBIE SEVERAL MEASURES FOR THE LITTLE LOST by NORMAN DUBIE A VERMONT 'DONATION' by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY |
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