Squeaky Chairs
I sit in this chair with its squeaky back
Drifting off on the desk
Waking up, lounging backwards
Squeak, ssqqquueeaaakkkk
You look at the class and tell no one to leave
No more squeaking you say
All I’m thinking is I’m not moving
I’m not leaving, but I’m not here
I am sitting here in this squeaky chair
Trying to listen but not
But at least my body is here
At least it showed up
I know the chairs aren’t your fault
But the lecture is
You go to slow and don’t even realize
When all of your students are falling asleep
When all of your students are distracted
Writing scholarship poems like me
Doing homework for physics
Letting their minds leave the room
I don’t know who the ideal teacher is
But I know you are not them
I know they would make me excited
Make me excited to learn
I know with them
This squeaky chair would be full
Full of a whole person
Body and mind
A whole person excited to be here
Excited like I was once told college is supposed to make you