Mr. Serious

My second grade students

had trouble pronouncing my name.

They’d call me Mr. Serious.

The older teachers would

correct them. I didn’t.

With a name like that, how

could they not behave.

Though, the next year

I was called Mr. Cereal.

I put a quick stop to that.

Would you behave for a teacher

whose name reminded you

of Shredded Wheat

you had just drowned in milk?

                                                Hal Sirowitz