a nursery school teacher
hair flecked with grey
eyes behind glasses, seeing all
that two-year olds learning to share
the space and toys
had tried on one another
time and time again
over the years,
took the badly behaving boy
making bullying moves
aside one day
early in his life of crime
before it was embraced in full

and she broke the attack he'd begun to make
on his rival for a bike
by saying, as she gently held his hands

'do nice things
only, with these
they are a gift
from God'

when the teacher talked to the mom
reporting what went on that day
the young lady liked, and kept the words
to guide her with the child

that two year-old is now a man
completing his degree
and coaching teens in sport,
on the threshold of career
in writing; and Kiwanis volunteer
no black marks on his records
humour and kindness are his rule

thus it is, too, for those blessed
with a huge following for their words

the tools and mind to manipulate them
golden wrap and bows
not granted everyone

and though you may work
the talent hard
and hone it like it's yours
and have the mastery of wide magnetism
for your creations,
loyal readers waiting to
witness your newest yield

remember all this is only
granted to you a while
by the greatest critiquer of us all
who I think lends gifts
in trust

that we do nice things
with our hands

04/20/2001