She was just an English teacher
For twelfth grade brats like me
She taught other levels
But at the end of the day it was we
She was nothing extraordinary
To the world at large
But to me she was a hero
Someone to count on free of charge
One fateful day the assignment was set
An essay we were to write
Non-fiction, truthful every word
This did cause me a fright
My world was hidden, secret
Hardly a soul did know
That school was my get-away
To home I didn't want to go
I sat to write the story down
The assignment weighed upon my mind
Finally, I decided to do it
I pushed away the worry and fear that did bind
I let the words pour forth
Spouting as though a pipe had sprung a leak
By the time I was done with the truth about home
Every inch of me felt weak
A couple days passed by real fast
I thought that maybe I was in the clear
Then on the way out of that class
“May I see you a minute?”, I hear
She asked if my essay was true
She asked how long I had lived this way
She rubbed and shook her weary head
Then said she would see me the next day
From there on I had a friend
She was always there for me
Once Seniors were released from school
I wanted to stay, as she could see
She made arrangments for me to help
I assisted with her classes
I assisted students with their papers
So they had a better chance of passing
The problems at home resolved themselves
As problems will sometimes do
I went my way, and she went hers
But forget her, I'll never do
She passed away a few years back
She's buried now ~ I don't know where
But she will live forever in my heart
Mrs. Mallett, teacher extraordinaire!
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