An Excellent Teacher

Navaris Darson

In the tenth grade, 

my English teacher 

shared with the class 

that she gave herself 

exactly ten minutes to cry 

each morning—that was it—

then she suppressed her grief

and refused it further intrusion 

upon the rest of her day.

For years, I wondered 

what she had to cry about 

first thing in the morning.

Eventually I learned 

without ever having to ask.

Because life proved 

to be an excellent teacher.

October 31, 2020