alanmdouglas

ON DRAWING FORTH
(Education, properly a drawing forth, implies not so much the communication of knowledge as the discipline
of the intellect, the establishment of the principles, and the regulation of the heart : Webster Dictionary, 1913)

In olden days when Webster ruled,
the schoolhouse was where folk were schooled;
not squat, a modern concrete blot
quite oversized, on city plot
resembling "institute" with bars,
no way designed to reach the stars.

Back then, a school was human-size,
bright-painted sight for sour eyes,
while Miss was prim and quite correct -
who'd give, also demand, respect.
If youngster sinned, fair punishment,
that corner called, so there you went.

Then, parents, if they knew you'd sinned
would descend too, fast as the wind,
to bawl you out, a grounding too.
Thus, soon you would know what to do.
Now, if teacher says even "Boo",
parents still come, but blast the school !

Education, a "drawing out"
made you whole person, a good scout,
so you, your country too, of course,
became a power-house; a force
for good in chaos all around,
keen to improve that which you found.

That old school-house was rocket-shaped,
which shows that then, folk had it taped;
they knew that if you they'd inspire
to fix your sights above the mire,
that stuffing in was not so smart,
while "drawing forth" enhanced the heart.

Alan McAlpine Douglas

Mysty

ahhhh yes weren't those the days Alan?? .... Excellent write and read. Thanks for the nostalgia

Mysty

ps... EGADS!! I just realized I dated myself lol.

alanmdouglas

Dear Mtsty,

How can an immortal soul "date" itself, when all time is present time ?

Thank you for your visit. (And the praise !)

Love
Alan

Mysty

LOL ...immortal am I?? I tell you... but tis a secret between you and I

Mysty

Curtis Spider Lee

alanmdouglas

Dear Curtis,

I've been quite amused at how many memories this poem has jogged. Thanks for the comments.

Love
Alan

ZonaJewel

Thanks for this work Alan, it does draw forth...lots of impressions I had of school in my youth. This is a piece folks can relate to and well done at that!
Lovely.
ZJ

alanmdouglas

Dear Zona,

Don't think I have knowingly ever corresponded with anyone form my favorite musical before !

Thank you for the visit and comments. It was written to a pic of a li'l old schoolhouse with a bell-tower, hence it looked like a rocket.

Love
Alan