The Teacher and the Councilor | Teen Ink

The Teacher and the Councilor

January 2, 2010
By OneWhiteTree GOLD, Galloway Township, New Jersey
OneWhiteTree GOLD, Galloway Township, New Jersey
16 articles 0 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Fairy tales do not tell children dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children dragons can be killed." G.K. Chesterton


Based on the Walrus and the Carpenter by Lewis Carroll

The sun was shining on the school
Shining with all its might
It did its very best to make
The school bricks hot and bright
And this was odd because it was
The middle of the night.

The kids were bored as bored could be
The chalk was dry as dry
You could not see a cloud, because
You could not see the sky
Some kids were lying on the desks
That’s all they knew --- to lie

The teacher and the councilor
Were walking close at hand
They wept like anything to see
Such sleepy, tired lads.
“If these were only cleared away,”
They said, “It would be grand!”

“O students come and walk with us!”
The teacher did beseech
“A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk ---
And we won’t try to preach.
We cannot do with more than four
To adequately teach.”

Four young students hurried up
Too eager to retreat:
Their hair was mussed, their hands unclean
Their pants down to their feet
It was the usual look for them
To not be very neat

The teacher and the councilor
Walked on a hallway or so
And then they rested on a chair
Convenient and low
And all the tired students stood
And waited in a row.

“The time has come,” The teacher said,
“To talk of many things.
Of jobs --- and grades --- and colleges ---
Of your future and your dreams!
And why the school is quite this big
And why we hear your screams.”

“I’m out of here.” The students said
And tried to pass them by.
Their path was blocked, their freedom gone,
So with a put-out sigh,
They sat down in the corridor
And then they closed their eyes.

“A different test.” The teacher said
“Is what we chiefly need.
More hours of school besides
Are very good indeed.
Now if you’re ready, students mine
We can begin to seed.”

“But not with us!” The students cried
Turning a little green.
“Think of sports --- of friends --- and think
Of the places we haven’t yet seen.
You cannot keep us cooped up here,
Dirty, nasty fiends!”

The teachers laughed and turned away
Their hands were moving quick
Happy they had completed
Their little, dirty trick
They went back to the students
Who were busy being sick.

“Come with us!’ The teachers snapped
“Hurry up now you!”
The students lumbered to their feet
And created a small queue.
They struggled after the adults
Who led them to a small room.

The day was long, the test was hard
There was no time for fun.
The teachers walked among the kids
“Keep on going, son!”
They urged the kids, gleeful
That they were teaching every one.

“The plan has worked!”The teacher cried
Turning to his friend
“They’re awake and busy.” But
The councilor shook his head.
Pointing to the students, he quietly
Said “they’re dead.”


The author's comments:
One of my favorite books when I was younger was "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." There was a poem in there called "The Walrus and The Caprenter" (I didnt' know until later that it was a metephor for religion.) that I memorized, because it was fun to say. This poem mirrors Lewis Carroll's.

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