Here is another Hafiz poem, this one published here in 2009, that I tried to connect to our work:
SPICED MANNA
Someone will steal you if you don’t stay near, and sell you as a slave in the market.
I sing to the nightingales’ hearts, hoping they will learn my verse, so that no one will ever imprison your brilliant angel feathers. Have I put enough spiced manna on your plate tonight in this Tavern where Hafiz serves?
If not please wait, for more light is now fermenting. Someone will steal you if you don’t stay near, and sell you as a slave in the Market, so your Beloved and I sing.
My commentary:
Our students’ minds will be stolen and sold in the market of curricular objectives, essential outcomes, and textbooks unless we keep them near and safe. How?
We must keep them focused on what counts. If we put enough spiced manna, enough rich input in the target language, enough input that is about them, we will keep our nightingales interested.
Each time we refer to them in class, each time we assign and christen a new name, each time we make them the subject and object of our teaching, we keep the fermentation process going. Each new day we chant with them. Each day we talk about things they want to talk about.
To keep them from being stolen and taken to the market.
