Poem from the Heart:
What Am I?
What Am I? Who Am I?
I am a man who stands
on his own two feet, who
stands for the right to learn,
to teach. The feeling is
oh so sweet. I am an
artist, who is proud, young
and strong. I am an artist,
who reaches and teaches
poetry to our students.
You ask me, “What are you?
and who are you?” I am
a man who is strong in
mind, heart, and soul. I do
my best to stay focused
and powerful with my poetry,
not my fists. You ask me,
“Are you really a teaching artist?
Can you really teach the
young generation poetry?”
I say, “You’re damn right I
can.
Why? ‘Cause I am a teaching artist.
I am a strong man with
a lot on my mind. I
teach the younger generation
poetry and writing
and love every minute
of it.” You turn around
and disrespect me, say
that I cannot do it.
I cannot teach poetry.
Am I not real? You don’t
know me to judge what am I,
who I am. You say I
am no poet. Try teaching
my kids, work in my classroom,
and attend the summer seminars.
I look at you and say,
“Excuse me?” You put me
and my peers down and I
say, “What? What? What? You can
never fill the shoes of
all the teaching artists
who bust their a—— doing
what is right. You could never
be like us when it comes
to the arts. Who the hell
are you to judge me. Who
the hell are you to judge
my peers?” What am I? I
am a man who tells it
like it is. I am a
teaching artist. I am
a poet. I am a
man who loves the job that
I do. I am a proud
member of Summer Seminar,
that takes place year after year.
In 2006
I’ll still be what I say
I am — an artist,
a proud artist, A Teaching Artist.
My poetry, my students’ poetry,
my peers’ work that they are
proud of says it all.
I am what I am.
Don’t forget that. My time
is the present. Our students
are the future. Hate is
in the past. Now you know
who I am. Now what are
you? Who are you?
Peace Love and God Bless Our Students And
Their Future
THOMAS PERRY
