I Covet Conversation Partners

A poetic message from a teacher to his students upon returning to in-person learning.

I Covet Conversation Partners

by Jacob Vahle

I covet conversation partners
More than wealth and fame;
For in the minds and eyes of them,
I gain knowledge of great acclaim.
And so I share in my guest’s ideas,
Let me tell you their names.

Plato he places me
inside the cave so dark and dim.
But with my eyes fixed on the Sun
I see by the light of Him.

Homer he hones me
To focus on my home,
To fix my eyes on New Jerusalem
And cease to endlessly roam.

Dante he daunts me
With visions too wonderful to behold.
Life with God as truly warm,
And without Him only cold.

Shakespeare he shakes me
With timeless wisdom to the core,
Of tyranny, love, and friendship
He reminds me there’s something more.

Milton he melts me
With sorrow for our parents of old,
But also promise, hope of peace,
And full redemption told.

Shelley she shells me
With a barrage of arrows pointed at my pride.
She warns me of my great ambition
Of which cause I’ll surely die.

Steinbeck he beckons me
To grapple with my sin,
To be a better father, brother
And let Light come within.

I covet conversation partners,
In their knowledge do I share.
But the talk is not as fruitful,
Without YOU in these chairs.

For dialogue takes more than two
To become the sweetest wine.
With them and you and me and Him,
Our conversation turns Divine.

I covet conversation partners,
These tables are filled once more.
Now talk of life fills up my days,
Conversation I’m made for.