Prada and Lawrence

I saw "The Devil Wears Prada" tonight. It was pretty good, and I really enjoyed Meryl Streep. It was just a nice, fluffy, cotton candy comedy with a message that applies to....anyone serving as an assistant to Anna Wintour at Vogue.

Here's a poem by D.H. Lawrence, "The Last Lesson", that pretty much sums up my attitude about school right now. Not exactly "Stand and Deliver" material I'm afraid...but very real and a feeling every teacher can recognize.

When will the bell ring and end this weariness?

How long have they tugged the leash and strained apart

My pack of unruly hounds: I cannot start

Them again on a quarry of knowledge they hate to hunt,

I can haul them and urge them no more.

No more can I endure to bear the brunt

Of the books that lie out on the desks: a full three score

Of several insults of blotted pages and scrawl

Of slovenly work that they have offered me.

I am sick, and tired more than any thrall

Upon the woodstacks working weariedly.

And shall I take

The last dear fuel and heap it on my soul

Till I rouse my will like a fire to consume

Their dross of indifference, and burn the scroll

Of their insults in punishment? - I will not!

I will not waste myself to embers for them,

Not all for them shall the fires of my life be hot,

For myself a heap of ashes of weariness, till sleep

Shall have raked the embers clear: I will keep

Some of my strength for myself, for if I should sell

It all for them, I should hate them-

-I will sit and wait for the bell.