The Teacher by Joan McNerney

She hoped some would leave,

rise above dirty factory gates

past plumes of smoke spewing

from the cement plant.

Occasionally when discussing

great American novels, the walls

shook. Ravines were blasted

for more rocks to crush into powder.

She wished they would not become

clerks for soul-less chain stores or

cooks in fast food joints where

smells of burning grease lingered. 

What was the use of teaching literature

and poetry to these children who would

soon grown listless?  Their spirits grinded

down like stones in the quarry.

Joan McNerney’s poetry has been included in numerous literary magazines such as Camel Saloon, Seven Circle Press, Dinner with the Muse, Blueline, Spectrum, three Bright Spring Hill Anthologies and several Kind of A Hurricane Publications.  She has been nominated three times for Best of the Net.  Four of her books have been published by fine small literary presses.