by Rosemarie E. Bishop

"Listen close," the Teacher said.
"Hear what I said; you know what is meant.
Pay attention so you will see
and when you do, then follow me."

And so we watched and listened good
and when the Teacher said we could
we each took turns and shared a thought
to show we learned what Teacher taught.

As each lesson turned around
we each discovered we had found
a different meaning from the rest.
But which was right? Which was best?

So we asked the Teacher, "Please.
Tell us which is right of these."
Teacher smiled and looked around
first at the sky, then at the ground.

"You're supposed to listen," Teacher said,
with open arms and shaking head.
"Hear these words I give to you
and know that every word is true."

"Open wide your hearts to me
and never think that I don't see
how hard you try to understand;
how far you stretch to touch my hand."

As the Teacher smiled again
we wished the day would never end.
Yet in our hearts we knew we'd find
the Teacher's words etched in our minds.

Now we do our best to share
the Teacher's lessons everywhere
and through this process we are whole
because we share the Teacher's soul.