Mr. LongTimer,
you slumber through
the school year--
Counting--
the minutes until class ends,
the hours until four p.m.,
the days until summer,
the years until retirement.
Mr. LongTimer,
I'm counting, too.
Counting--on you--
to care and create,
teach and test,
instruct and inspire,
and light my
mathematical
fire.
(1998)