Master’s Lesson
Twelve years ago on October twenty-first
Warm, sunny, beautiful day
Was my first day of training
Four years old I had gotten my white belt
From my master, now my friend
This man was seemed as
A wise old fool by many
But indeed he was a genius in his arts
Every one of his techniques was awe inspiring
Every kick was done with grace
Every punch was swift
Every student he had taught become a master
This man was Ernie Reyes Sr.
This man was a legend of his teachings
This man was the best master you will ever have
With his tricks, his flips, and his kicks
He had blown my mind on
What a human being can do
Only at the age of four, I knew nothing
I knew nothing better but just
To follow his instructions
At the age of eight, I had received my black belt
Now understand that this wise old fool
Was one of the most intelligent people
That I have ever met in my life
This inspired me
From the age of four seeing
Amazing techniques being displayed
To the age of eight realizing what my master has been through
This seventy-year-old man
An immigrant from the Philippines
Who has come from nothing
Is now one of the greatest fighters
In the country
He has made his life that
was nothing to himself
To others
Into greatness
Now at the age of sixteen
He has taught and showed me
Not as a master
But one of the closest friends
That I can call family
The life lesson that
with a lot of hard work
Patience and Perseverance
As you learn to accept yourself
For who you are
What may be shown as nothing
To others with your life
Is great to you.
Sanjeev! This is a really good poem, I really liked the anaphora you used with the repetition of "Every" and "This man" in their specific stanzas, it really emphasizes to the reader what you believe is important in this poem. My favorite line(s) is "He has made his like that - was nothing to himself - to others - into greatness." The enjambment used in this stanza as well as other examples in your poem allow the reader to pause and really understand the given phrases.
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