The Indian
Teacher
EUGENE D’VAZ
They listened in rapt silence
as he juggled with themes
of hunger, poverty, humiliation
He brought tears to his eyes
They listened and dreamed
of how to build a better world–
Then the electric bell rang.
He gathered his books
adjusted his tie
washed the chalk from his hands
and left the blackboard
scarred with graphs.
Boys nodded at him in revered greeting.
He turned by the gate
Hungry eyes stared.
The starving child begged.
An old grey-bearded shrivelled man
sat orphaned at the foot of the lamp-post.
But his class was over,
Did he make a good impression?
He went home to his fat lunch
and smiled at the good
teacher (or preacher?) he had become.