They were thrilled and shocked
to learn that tele– means
far-reaching.
searching for a real understanding,
they argued their point.
Alas, the word wizard won
as we evaluated,
in snippets of excited
teacher-assisted talk
along our educational continuum:
television, telephone, telepathy
The light bulbs sprung up
over their heads
and they shuffled out the door,
ready for another hour
of new, far-reaching words
they would learn along the way.
Physics: stored energy
(marble at the top of the hill)
waiting for its chance to convert
into kinetics (move it baby)
Latin: potentia (power)
derived from potent
(being able) to do whatever
it is you have the potential to do.
Humans: we are the marbles
waiting at the top of the slope
for our chance to convert ourselves
into a movement that will change the world.
we are a captive audience
and you are trying to explain
the word captivating to them
as if it’s only a positive experience
but I know the root: capt
which means caught
and that’s how I am
in this back seat
behind the back row
unable to speak the definition
aloud to you
though even to myself
I can’t say why
(I can’t say why I
want to disappear)
the students listen to your
explanation and you,
being their teacher,
have convinced them
of its truth, its beauteous
seduction of words.
in a way, I know you are right:
we are all captivated by
the words from your mouth,
the quiet classroom you maintain,
the definitions you provide.
what I mean to say
(though I won’t)
is that (I) we are caught here,
our own words captured
(same root)
somewhere inside our souls,
waiting to be released.
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