RECUERDO CUANDO (I REMEMBER WHEN)

Some years ago, when I walked into your classroom,
Entering with anxiety and my worst fear.
Ñ’s and more strange sounding and looking letters,
Only confirmed to me language was not my game.

Right as the tardy bell rang, I raced to your room,
And quickly found an empty seat near the room’s rear.
Remembering this will be two long semesters,
Only a small break split the year’s two term time frame.

Scanning the room, hoping to recognize a friend,
All I saw was a class filled with underclassmen.
Perhaps I could make new friends with someone near me,
Albeit, I knew I had to make the first move.

Ready to attempt and introduce myself, yet,
Rebutting all my attempts at any small talk.
Although I tried, he wasn’t ready for friendship,
So, I became his daily annoying distraction.

Probing with questions, again l tried to befriend,
Any chance of making friends stopped with my chagrin.
Not quite ready to give up yet, I’ll let him be,
In retreat, back to our tasks, I planned my next move.

Somewhere reciting the full Spanish alphabet,
Hearing sight words pronounced just left my brain in shock.
In my turn, all I pulled off was an awkward flip,
In an entirely embarrassing self-action.

Studying and practicing barely seemed enough,
But I think you felt pity and offered to help.
Hoping, I didn’t waste your time, I tried harder,
Somehow, I managed to survive to the next term.

Countless times over the years, I wished to thank you,
Least was for being my year two Spanish teacher.
As l remember, your patience, guidance and laughs,
Seemed often, but you helped me through some hard times.

Starting each journey, I started collecting stuff,
Only mementos of memories which I held.
For my life’s been like a winning hand of poker,
I bluffed more often than won over the long term.

Passing months, soon became years and now, decades too,
Blessings of life’s lessons whispered into my ear.
Brought forth yearbooks, lost letters and old photographs,
Teasing memories of the nostalgic pastimes.

Having not gained any aptitude for language,
At best, I can only find the nearest restroom.
Notwithstanding, unbeknownst to either of us,
Kismet spirits brought together lifelong best friends.

Yet, our differences worked toward our advantage,
Opposite and polarized, nevertheless true.
Uniting our universe, without a compass,
¡La amistad es como el vino, mientras más vieja, más fuerte!

=====

End Note:

This acrostic poem was written for my second year, high school Spanish teacher, Señora Rosa Parra.  I may not have learned to write or speak Spanish, but learned to appreciate the vast culture, food and the beauty of Spanish speaking countries.  The best thing that came out of the class, was meeting my best friend and how this wonderful teacher helped plant the seeds and encouraged the friendship to grow.  I will never be able to payback her being in the right place in my life at the right time and tuning into our frequency.  Its not always what subject a teacher taught but the hidden lessons of life which are treasures uncovered many years later.

The actual poem was written in February 2019 shortly after the memorial of a beloved educator at South Broward High School, Hollywood, FL. Due to COVID and family emergencies our actual meeting didn't occur until 5 years later in March 2024. The post can be found in March 2024, Tuning into Our Frequency.

The last line in Spanish, I compare friendship to a bottle of wine that grows in flavor and richness as it ages.