A tribute to my teacher

by Gail Diamond Fri Mar 08, 2013

You passed the baton with the highest trust
In what we, in time, would achieve
You saw our gifts, caught a whiff of our promise
And taught us to believe.{{more}}

In ourselves and our worth
For ability we had more than enough
If we dare persist, if we dare only stretch
Oh the myriad stars we could touch!

Those roving eyes did not miss a thing
Too wise, too sharp to be fooled
How could you know, how did you know
That we had breached the rules?

Your determined footsteps left no doubt
That there was something or someone to fix
We heard them coming, looming with purpose
And quickly put away the bag of tricks.

When our dignity hid, we saw your brows crease
With intent to put it back in its place
To restore the honour and pride in ourselves
To make us women of grace

So at home or scattered beyond these shores
In fields and spheres where only dreams took seat
Our torch first lit by a mentor who knew
Burns bright for a work now complete.