This is College (NaPoWriMo #6)

This is where I play the role of punctuation prophet, pointing to the use

Of apostrophes for pluralization purposes

As a sign of imminent apocalypse.

This is where I draw cartoon faces on commas and semicolons

In order to breathe life into sentence boundary lessons.

This is where I seek substantiation and supporting evidence. 

This is where I push against passivity, and insist
On opening the text and returning to it repeatedly.

This is college.

This is where I shouldn’t have to give pop quizzes

In order to get them to read.

But I do.

This is where the dudebro in the back of my class yawns

And asks, When is this shit due again?

This is where I work myself up

Into a nearly perfect state

Of post-midterm self-pity.

And then

This is where a student stops me

And says,

I haven’t read a whole book

Since sixth grade

But I read that one you assigned us in just two days

Because it was

So awesome.

Thank you.

This is where everything

Is bright and right again.

This is where I live to teach another day.

***

This poem was inspired by the "This is Where" poetry contest sponsored by the Miami Herald.  You can read more about it here.  Since I don't live in Florida, I am not qualified to write a poem for their contest, but I was inspired by the "This is Where" idea.