by
Tara Ryan

From the blackboard gather chalk dust,
Mix it with a drop of ink.
Put it in an empty paint pot,
Rinsed out at the staffroom sink.

Stir it gently with a ruler,
Let it bubble till its thick.
Make a pair of magic passes
O'er it with a metre stick.

Gently chant the eight times table
Backwards down to eight times one;
Leave it now to gather power -
Soon the magic will be done.

As the hometime bell is ringing
Cringe and wait in fright and fear:
Watch your teacher put her coat on....
Watch! And soon she'll disappear!

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