Lessons in Pain

As the anniversary draws near, I ache,

memories of her lessons that twisted, that break.

A text from a classmate, a funny recall,

a teacher who thrived on the rise of our fall.

That dusty old desk still holds echoes of spite,

where dreams turned to ashes, and joy took to flight.

With each cruel word, a flicker was snuffed,

the cost of her teaching, too heavy and rough.