First above all,
Mrs. Floyd in her apron who'd laugh and say
"the rain will soon pass today."
I was first to read and learn and speak,
but at the clap of thunder, I'd hide and she'd seek.
I was scared beyond belief.
Mr. Brown walked with a cane and kept to the point.
In bad dreams, he was the first I'd disappoint.
I met my best friend a few seats down;
to this day, we're still two clowns.
It was 8th grade and he'd always say,
"only do what you'd enjoy today."
And since with us he spent every morning,
I knew his joy in life was the gift of learning.
On his last day we went outside to the hall;
"Josh, you're going to be the next Bill Gates," and that was all.
It was Muhammad online
who said use the Internet to sharpen your mind.
HTML, JavaScript --
study these tools and don't forget.
Mr. Jones preferred the feel of chalk,
and at computers in class he'd always balk.
He said success, money, grades, whatever --
only honor will last forever.
Mr. Rose had us open our Barron's Guide
and color-code and highlight every line.
I'd given up on learning the way,
and I'd hoped to just survive each day.
Straight As and accolades I could no longer keep
but Mr. Rose looked at me and told me, "leap!"
I read all the books and spent every night
alone at the table, studying in the light.
All these years after, I'm glad I always paid attention
to Mr. Brown, Mr. Rose, and those I couldn't mention.
But most of what I learned on how to survive
came from him with the amber eyes.