Poem of the Day: Did I Miss Anything?

Did I Miss Anything?

              Question frequently asked by
              students after missing a class

Nothing. When we realized you weren't here
we sat with our hands folded on our desks
in silence, for the full two hours

 Everything. I gave an exam worth
 40 per cent of the grade for this term
 and assigned some reading due today
 on which I'm about to hand out a quiz
 worth 50 per cent

Nothing. None of the content of this course
has value or meaning
Take as many days off as you like:
any activities we undertake as a class
I assure you will not matter either to you or me
and are without purpose

 Everything. A few minutes after we began last time
 a shaft of light descended and an angel
 or other heavenly being appeared
 and revealed to us what each woman or man must do
 to attain divine wisdom in this life and
 the hereafter
 This is the last time the class will meet
 before we disperse to bring this good news to all people
         on earth

Nothing. When you are not present
how could something significant occur?

 Everything. Contained in this classroom
 is a microcosm of human existence
 assembled for you to query and examine and ponder
 This is not the only place such an opportunity has been
         gathered

 but it was one place

 And you weren't here

-- Tom Wayman, 1994

The author, Tom Wayman, has a FAQ about the poem here.