Introduction

I did this in gr. 9 for a Poetry Anthology and I wanted a challenging poem to parody, so I went to some classic Poe.

The Teacher (Parody of the Raven by E.A. Poe)

Once upon a midterm dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many puzzling questions of a paper quite grotesque,
While I pondered, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping on my student desk.
"Tis the teacher," I muttered, "tapping on my student desk,
Rightly this and nothing less."

Then this busy teacher beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
But my grave and stern situation on his countenance he wore,
"Though thy test be tough and draining, thou," he said, "art surely waning."
Thoughtful and concerned, not blaming, for my forgetfulness of yore,
'Tis just a test." Said the teacher and other's help he then bore.
Quoth the teacher, "Nothing more."

Then I sat engaged in guessing, but no thoughts I was expressing,
On the test whose questions now burned into my noggin's core.
This and more I sat divining, in my desk at ease reclining,
Above my head a bulb was shining, o'er the paper, (quite a bore)
Which whose intense twining, of the questions I forgot from yore;
But would illude me nevermore.

And the Teacher, never sitting, still is flitting,
Past the desks of the student's help he just bore,
And this test with all the steaming of my pen now redeeming
My forgotfulness of yore, which, now by the bell, allowed no more.
I then asked, "When shall I have time for these remaining four?"
Quoth the Teacher, "Nevermore!"

Copyright; Adam Kerby
Email: adamkerby@mail.com