Among the teachers

The boy was precocious, no question;

Speaking of God as father, and such.

Twelve years old, adrift in the temple

and taking it up to his elders.

Being advanced for one's age

is a quality not always welcomed

by the educated, wise and experienced;

Israel does not need another Samuel.

Still, his youthful idealism captured our attention;

in a decade or so,

given the benefit of our collective wisdom,

he might be made into something,

or Someone.

A useful Someone.

With proper guidance and direction

he could become a minor sensation.

Imagine: a peasant teacher from the northern provinces.

Never happened before,

he could prove quite handy.

Such a possibility is, of course, a long way off.

We'll get him to come back in a few years.

The first step will be to re-channel

that youthful idealism;

then we can begin his real education.

© Ken Rookes 2015