Faculty Development Comes to the College of Micronesia
From the mainland
a speaker charging
$10,000 per day
and we are told
and again
and again told
that our profession
is a calling
even older than
prostitution
that good
teachers are rare
birds
that our students
care
that they are
intersections
waiting for green lights
that we teachers hold
these lights
hidden
because we do not
care enough.
One hour early
on the second day
she finishes finally
asks Do you have
questions? Silence
that balloon dog
fills the room fills
to the very tips
a country
without signals
or intersections
where teachers
make textbooks
like quilts
a pattern from here
an image from there
gifts
to students without
money
potable water
electricity.
Sometimes
nothing
is the only
answer possible
but then she fills
even our silence,
This may be hard
for you culturally
Micronesians not being
a reflective people
capable of questioning.
Now hands
bodies rise up
in unison
in rage
to say something
everything
but our dean is quicker
her voice carries
cooling water
as she says,
For two thousand years
the people of this island
have shown hospitality
to our guests it is
our culture it is
our pride it is
why when I say now
you are to leave
I add please
and I add
thank you.