228/365

two in mozambique +
two in new york city +
three in malaysia +
three in doha +
two in jakarta +
ten in singapore =

twenty two years teaching across the globe.
and here i sit, the night before new classes begin,
working my ass off to find ways to engage with teenagers
so they might care about themselves and their friends and me
and things we do in class and books and stories and films
and peace and justice and the world enough to per chance
find some joy, embrace their sadness,  and realise
that they are here—that life exists and identity,
that the powerful play goes on,
and they may contribute a verse.