Chapter 2 More reading, less talking

As the chalk scrapes against the chalkboard I watch in awe. This can’t possibly be my teacher. I may have skipped this class all year but I did come to a few at the beginning and I for sure would have remembered her. Her golden blonde hair has some curls in it and reaches down to the center of her back. She’s wearing a white long-sleeved button down blouse with the sleeve rolled up and a knee length tight black skirt that still shows off enough of her perfect tanned legs. Her black high heels give her a little height but she can’t be more than 5’4".

As you can imagine I am staring at her with my mouth slightly open. She turns and makes eye contact with me and raises her right eyebrow slightly. Probably curious as to why I am gawking at her. But I don’t turn away. I can’t. She then smirks and starts to address the class.

"Okay so last month we studied Emily Dickinson, the next 4 weeks we will be studying the dark and mysterious Edgar Allan Poe. It is my belief that Poe is an extremely important part of American Literature. Not only is he known for one of the most famous poems in American History he was also known for his tales of mystery and suspense. Poe always thought that Poetry was a fashion and that it must be fashioned, shaped and polished like an organic substance. Poetry excited and tantalized Poe. The tales he wrote were the first of their kind and to this day writers have mentioned Poe’s work as their inspiration. He brought us the art of Poetry a shaping imagination and a passionate love of beauty."

While she spoke you could see the passion in her eyes and hear it in her words. She almost made me want to learn more about Poe. Almost. Really I just want to learn more about her.

"So the next few days you all are going to study Poe on your own and by the end of the week I want a short paper on what you have found. I want you to try to get a concept of Poe before we start to read his work. Alright so everyone grab your belongings we are gonna head to the library. We have a great collection of biographies and Poe’s works along with my own collection and of course we have the internet. You will work in group of two’s for now so pick a partner and let’s go."