I Want to Love Reading by Leon Bayles

We met Leon Bayles through our COIL collaboration. Leon is a student in the Global Studies program at Providence College. He is also an English Arts teacher at an inner-city high school. He shared his poem with us as part of his positionality statement, offering us a glimpse into the complexities of his own struggles and longing for validation and acceptance. The poem is a heartwarming signature of the empathy he has for his own students, for their richness, innocence, and aspirations.
Our gratitude goes to you Leon for your wisdom and compassion.

The CLIC Project

I want to love reading like my teacher does…

I want to love reading because my friends and teachers seem to have fun

But when it’s my turn to read in class I just want to run

Straight out of the door and retreat back to my bed

All of these strange words and sounds run through my head

I want to love reading like my teacher does…

I want to participate in class discussion about our books

Whenever I try to read aloud I just get a bunch of funny looks

My classmates laughing at me

How can all of this be?

A grade of “A” or “B” does not represent what I’ve learned

I wish that this English book would be burned

I want to love reading like my teacher does…

How can I show them that I’ve done the work?

When I open the book I feel my anxiety lurk

I pay attention when given instructions in class

But I feel like I’m stuck in a silent case of glass

I used to try and read their lips

But COVID came with a mask that I hope rips

I want to love reading like my teacher does…

He explains the meaning of words to me

Reading the page my mind buzzes like a bee

I try to sound out the words as my teacher listens

I can feel a tear in my eye begin to glisten

My teacher asks me, “how can I help you to learn?”

I don’t know how to gain his trust that I want to earn

Stay patient with me as I read

I do all of my homework and I want to lead

At home my parents ask me “how can I translate?”

Trying to understand my assignment in English will only agitate

I want to love reading like my teacher does…

If only I could tell him about something that matters to me

That I am capable, strong, and full of glee

If only he could open his eyes and see

That I do love reading like my teacher does… I just wish everyone would not give up on me