One English Teacher's Move

One English Teacher’s Move

Michelle Blakely

Six boxes of books.

Ranging from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

to a Teacher’s Guide to Teaching Shakespeare.

Reluctantly leaving behind the Jodi Picoults

and the extra copies of Amy Tan’s books.

Most came from avidly seeking out library book sales.

Five boxes of miscellaneous school supplies.

Heavy duty sets of hanging file folders

bought at whole sale five years ago.

A pen holder made in a ceramics class

highlighting favorite authors’ names. 

Four quilts from years of teaching American literature (except year one).

They represent students’ values—their personalities.

No need for any photos.  Like America itself, so nicely woven

together, but uniquely standing out. 

Three packed folders of memorable student work. 

That may not seem like a lot,

but most is accessible digitally.

Two desks that were once cluttered with massive writings and assignments and pens and broken staplers,  

slowly emptying to their clean bare beginnings.

One personal item: a framed engagement photo.