long ago on a Sunday morning

long ago on a Sunday morning

he sits in the common room
sipping coffee, munching toast
and reading the New York Times.
he teaches at a third rate
boarding school, most of the boys
sleep late after Saturday night in town.

at twenty five he has the energy
to teach, supervise the dorm,
drive the boys on field trips,
nurse the sick ones while knowing
when to call the doctor,
getting some out of trouble with the police
and the numerous other problems
teachers solve at this sort of school.
he can do it all at twenty five
but he wonders if he can
when he’s older.

in the paper is an ad
-the government wants teachers
for its schools overseas, write
or call ….

so starts the twenty plus years
of his happy career.
it must be destiny that he chose
to read that paper that day.