I had forgotten this one but the 'liberal education' thread, prompted my 'old' brain. I will leave it to Anne to re-title it. Smiles or should that be smoles?

Rough Diamond

I need to learn

You, teach me how to earn

Try to kill the flame inside

That needs to burn

I need to run

Not to walk in line

Take hold of this rough diamond

And make it shine

Not to pass some test

But to be my best

To be as good as I can be

And not step on the rest

You teach me the how

But not the why

You teach me how to crawl

When I've wings to fly

Trample all the new growth in the forest

To get some to the top of the tree

You let me wear this badge of failure

When it's you that's failing me

I may not be wise

But you may be surprised

If you could see the world

Through my eyes

Don't take, the few

Teach me too

Then you can learn from me

As I learn from you

Teach me how to grieve

How to believe

How to find a lover

And how to leave

How to share

How to care

Show me wild horizons

And take me there

Roger Gall 1996.