Parent-Teacher Conferences

A clock clicking wasted seconds,

An empty room with polished floor

And textbooks put away,

Whiteboards cleaned.

Sounds of volleyball match next door,

Music rooms perched above the gym,

Balls bouncing, girls shouting,

Jubilant.

Sitting and grading in silence

Papers written with wasted ink –

Formal writing couched in

Text-speak, slang.

Six o’clock and no one coming,

No crowds are cheering in this room;

Family at home eating

Without me.

A classroom waiting silently,

With gradebook and standards on hand

To talk about student

Achievement.

But no one comes tonight except

For those I do not need to see.

Those whose kids are struggling

Are not here.