NaPoWriMo Day 13: War Song For Teachers

This is a song for the children

For the broken

For the ones who always hear

You are not good enough

In subtext, in words, in actions.

You are not the sum

Of anyone’s thoughts.

You are not defined by your mistakes

But by your actions and reactions

Your future is more resilient

Than one bad grade.

I will not give up on you.

Success and failure do not define

The sum total of who you are

And will be.

Fail when you try

Fall when you learn

But stand up and try again.

 I will teach you to believe in yourself

That there is nothing you cannot achieve

Through discipline, teamwork, and perseverance.

I will not let you give yourself excuses

I will not allow you to blame others

For your shortcomings.

This is both war song and love song:

I will fight to break those words

On loop in your psyche:
Failure, stupid, useless, ugly

I will not measure you with these standards

But by the yardstick of your capacity.

I will stretch your horizons and show you

Worlds beyond, for you to explore.