I've got to get out of this neighbourhood
a high school teacher I recognized
but did not know
said hi to me today
and then told off a boy in a school uniform
standing next to me at the tram stop
'Anything could have happened,
don't do that again,
what would I tell your parents?'
things were said I don't remember
I felt I was witnessing something I shouldn't
a mother telling off their child
in hushed and spitting words
and strong affirmative tones
the poor boy didn't know what had hit him.
She walked back accross the tram tracks
pleasantly smiling
to the large group of boys jeering across the tracks
she stood with them smiling while they jeered.

I remember seeing this kid alone
walking to the stop
I thought
I know what you're going through buddy
he walked like I used to walk
alone with nowhere to go.

I haven't had many good experiences with teachers
there are good ones and bad ones
there are teachers who are mothers
some who are friends
others who aren't really there at all
and some who are there but who are not friends.

I don't think I ever had this teacher
but she was always around
she looked like a coordinator.

I felt for that kid
tall boys in uniform laughing and pointing like Neanderthals
she stood there
in front of this mob
she was miniature in comparison
like a toy
with that sick smile on her face
like she was proud of something.
When she said hi she called me by name
I don't think I had seen her for years and
my hair was very different to how I used to have it then.
It's almost suspicious how teachers remember you like that.