A VOICE FROM EXPERIENCE

To a Special Teacher
- Samantha Abeel
(Author of My Thirteenth Winter)

When the sun rose
from under its misty veil,
you were there to watch,
like the birds over the sea.
When the wind came quietly
and rested in your ear,
you listened, as the earth would at dawn.
When the rain fell,
you reached out with your hands
and let it wash everything away,
like waves as they grasp the shore.
When the plain brown seed was planted,
you could already smell the fragrance of
the flower that was to come,
and you were proud
as a good gardener should be.

Thank you for believing
that there was a flower waiting inside
and for taking the time
to help
and watch it grow.
When the sun rose
from under its misty veil,
you were there to watch,
and I am thankful.


From: Abeel, Samantha. 2001. Reach for the Moon. New York: Orchard.
Samantha Abeel Homepage
To Be Young, Gifted, and Learning Disabled