Paola

I had a student named Paola

in a Spanish class in Oklahoma.

She explained the rules

better than I could.

I knew the way it should be—

I went by the book,

but she had more reasons

why yes or why no—

she went by her roots and her song.

Sometimes she would laugh

when I struggled,

but I laughed with her and asked

for her help.

Then she struggled to understand

why I would ask for a hand

and I smiled,

sometimes you have to be humble.

My student Paola

is now my friend Paola

and we keep in touch to this day.

She still laughs at me

and I smile at her

and we both share our roots and our songs.