Last Lesson of the Afternoon

Last Lesson of the Afternoon

	When will the bell ring, and end this weariness?
	How long have they tugged the leash, and strained apart,
	My pack of unruly hounds! I cannot start
	Them again on a quarry of knowledge they hate to hunt,
5	I can haul them and urge them no more.
	No longer now can I endure the brunt
	Of the books that lie out on the desks; a full threescore
	Of several insults of blotted pages, and scrawl
	Of slovenly work that they have offered me.
10	I am sick, and what on earth is the good of it all?
	What good to them or me, I cannot see!
	So, shall I take
	My last dear fuel of life to heap on my soul
	And kindle my will to a flame that shall consume
15	Their dross of indifference; and take the toll
	Of their insults in punishment? — I will not! —
	I will not waste my soul and my strength for this.
	What do I care for all that they do amiss!
	What is the point of this teaching of mine, and of this
20	Learning of theirs? It all goes down the same abyss.
	What does it matter to me, if they can write
	A description of a dog, or if they can't?
	What is the point? To us both, it is all my aunt!
	And yet I'm supposed to care, with all my might.
25	I do not, and will not; they won't and they don't; and that's all!
	I shall keep my strength for myself; they can keep theirs as well.
	Why should we beat our heads against the wall
	Of each other? I shall sit and wait for the bell.

DH Lawrence