I.

I have been a (paid) educator for 18 years.

I have taught at the middle school, high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels, at six different institutions of learning.

I have taught [I don’t do math] number of students in my career.

II.

The poems in this book are:

1. Based on real events I experienced

2. Based on real events students/colleagues/friends/family have experienced

3. Based on real events I have heard about/was told about

4. Based on real events I have imagined

5. Based on a combination of 1, 2, 3, and/or 4.

III.

Unless we have a prior arrangement, I won’t tell you the genesis of the poem(s) you’re wondering about.

Stop asking.

Love,
MEH