Poem for the day 4

Yes, it is interesting, and quite thought provoking. I don't know why, but it has put me in mind of "Brave New World" , by Aldous Huxley.

I can see why Brave New World springs to mind. The poem creates the idea that our normal human reactions have been so stifled that we have to be taught how to do them. It is especially powerful to me as it talks about Touch as just another subject on the curriculum. I thought that was a very interesting idea. I really like this poem.

Your post in response to mine sums it up perfectly, Luckygirl !

Beautiful poem.

Am I alone in finding it creepy?

If it was written for a purpose then I don't really find it creepy. It all sounded quite appropriate and I actually enjoyed it.

Sorry ,
but I am 'mother' to more than a dozen offspring, who all love hugs! I find this very disquieting ! I do not think schools or churches should be involved with emotional welfare including sexual info; this is the job for parents and family!!!
Respect was what we were taught in school for teachers and those who such as police and such!!!

I don't think the poet thinks that schools should be responsible for emotional welfare. In fact, her point is that they shouldn't be. It seems like a very sad poem to me, that the children have not learned to express emotion in a natural way outside the classroom. Mr. Farnham, with his 'wooly front' is not portrayed as a sinister, threatening figure.

I do not think that the poem is saying that school should be responsible for "teaching" children normal emotional/physical responses - I think she is trying to highlight the emotional wasteland that some children live in by setting up this rather extreme scenario where they need to learn this in school.

I thought it was a beautiful multi layered poem. Poetry is like any other art, you see in it and take from it whatever you want to.

greatmum it's a poem, not a proposal for educational reform!

I think any good, kind teacher will be able to tell which pupils could really do with a hug. I would like to think that this man found a way around the problem of giving a much-needed hug in a situation where the child would feel safe. I didn't find it creepy at all. DBH is a teacher and he gets desperately upset by not being able to give comfort when he can see that it is needed. We are back to the days of a manly pat on the shoulder.

I recall reading this poem in a UK magazine. I wonder whether you have copyright permission to post it here? This concerns me, out of respect for the poet, more than whether or not the poem is 'creepy', though I agree with LouLou21. Perhaps LuckyGirl knows the author?