Good Teacher
by Sabrina Dawkins
You found me with false information.
You could’ve judged me, but you were patient.
You probably did judge me at first
and wondered if I would ever choose you
as my teacher. Well, I did, eventually.
And this made you happy, but it saved my life.
You never forced me to take your path.
You shined ahead of me as headlights in night.
And I never even knew you were there
until much later. How sneaky of you.
But I understand: You let me choose.
I got lucky: You could’ve abandoned me at any time.
I was a slow learner.
How many times I pushed aside your spirit nudges
because I was blinded by stronger urges,
and ignoring them was like holding my breath.
Then you took away my bodily breath
and gave me Spirit breath.
I no longer had to hold my breath in vain
to stave off the impulses.
The impulses died with my body’s breath.
Then you lived inside and breathed for me.