To My Favorite Teacher, by Eileen Spinelli

I'm sure it isn't easy coming into school each day.
There must be other things you'd like to do –
perhaps sleep late, have lunch with friends
or take a pretty drive
or check out that new panda at the zoo.

And yet you come – all smiles – to teach
the things you think we ought to know –
like how to make the proper change
and how to be polite
and what it is that makes the glowworm glow.

You point out Spain and Egypt on the map.
You choose a book and read to us aloud.
You listen to the poems we write in class
and clap your hands and say we make you proud.

And so I drew this big red heart for you
with lots of silver glitter dots that shine.
I hope that it will brighten up your day –
this handmade, thank-you Valentine of mine.

by Eileen Spinelli