A Teacher's Confession

Parent complaints cut me to the quick,
Making me cringe and hang my head in shame.
A throwback to my younger years as a child
Assaulted by torrents of angry words
Because I didn't measure up to some unknown standard.

The shame grows inside devouring my soul,
Leaving me feeling hollow and unworthy to teach.
Making me afraid that angry words will
Spill out of this shame and
Smother the fragile egos offering their trust.

I fight this shame with positive affirmations;
Build a solid wall to imprison the inadequacies,
Fortify against a new assault.
Yet the cycle is not yet broken,
And I enter the room wounded and worn out from the struggle within.