Your World As I See It

Our March meeting was postponed a week, so I cranked out a few limericks during my planning period (when you're a sub, you have time for these kinds of things). HP Rhymes Anthony Ikehara "Knowledge Bowling" There once was a team from Harrison Prep, Whose Knowledge Bowl skills were quite hep, Tyler was prone to shotgun Questions just barely begun, Yet Zoe confidently answered with mere seconds left. "PLC Blues" Thursday morning, stack of papers to grade, Is my presence but a mere charade? Collaborative plans are not for me, The only teacher of DP history; My TA is absent, with 200 copies to be made. "But I Don’t Like Canada, Eh" Students groan as I flash a smile warm, They cringe at my voice full of smarm, “Daaaaaamn Ikehara, back at it again,” “With readings abooot a Canadian!” I laugh as they pray for the fire alarm. "Tests are Hard" I once taught a government ...

Another poem shared with the group... "Toy Story" By Anthony Ikehara The commander established a new theater of combat My treads creaked, my engine roared to life I drove to and fro, surveying my new habitat Optics out, I searched for any signs of strife Yet all was quiet on this front There was no enemy to hunt The commander announced that he must leave For all my life, I had followed the path he led He must have seen my intention to grieve Because he chuckled and with a wry grin said, “I want you on this wall;” “I need you on this wall.” The commander had gone to be another’s pawn With determined loyalty I manned my post My turret followed stray cats upon the lawn The dog barked at squirrels on the coast Though our days perhaps were numbered, The civilians’ sleep was unencumbered. The commander’s absence stretched to years Yet I sat, the stoic still silent sentinel As children frolicked, free from fears And pa...

Another poem I wrote for a HP Writer's group meeting. "Alter Ego" By Anthony Ikehara I quickly broke the silent contemplation, “Send me to the front, I’ll take the mail, let me be the guy,” A steely resolve set an edge to a voice without hesitation Bright eyes reflected a quiet determination on which they could rely. Relieved looks and words of gratitude met my revelation, I told them not to worry, that their loved ones would not cry, For I, selfless and noble, would soldier on for them in dedication, Though inside I could hear a silent doubt, asking me not to try Yet still I climbed aboard the convey headed for Mosul; I was the combat mailman, trying to play it cool. Well sure, that speech was nice and all, But we both know why you volunteered for the fall, You high-minded hero, born to run, and not to crawl. You alone were the one with the wherewithal, Smiling in the face of danger, to enter the hall Where heroes stand immortaliz...