That Lesson Bombed

(We are in fifth grade Polish literature class. The teacher describes the background of a poem written during World War II.)

Teacher: “In the first part of the poem we have a direct account of the bombardments. In the second part the poet has already fled the country. He’s safe in France, but he’s heartbroken because his home and neighborhood where he grew up is being destroyed. I know the names of the streets he mentions mean nothing to you because you’re not from Warsaw, so imagine it happens here in our city. Imagine you’re staying in Paris and hear the news that bombs are falling on your street, on your school—”

All Students: *enthusiastic cheer* “Yeah!”

Teacher: “Probably not the best analogy, I see.”