The Quiet Teacher

The quiet Teacher (Oupa George) is a portrait from Marlene Dickerson to acknowledges the integrity, spririt and teachings of a wonderful man who will live in our hearts forever. Oupa George was a quiet man, but he taught us so many important lessons through his actions and his quiet manner.

• Year: 1981
• Category: Portrait
• Medium: Oil on Canvas
• Size: 60 x 80 (cm)
• By: Marlene Dickerson

Oupa George recited a poem to me in about 1975. I believe this poem nicely sums up his approach to life.

The wise old owl sat in th oak,
The more he heard, the less he spoke,
The less he spoke, the more he heard,
Why can’t we be like that wise old bird.

This was no doubt intended as a lesson for me… A copy of the original page that he wrote and drew for me, when he recited the poem, is shown at the bottom of this page.

Memories

Grace before dinner: ‘Bless this food we beseech thee Lord for Jesus Christs sake, Amen’

Grace after dinner: ‘We thank thee for all thy services and holy be the Lords name, Amen’

The clock chime: ‘Oh Lord my God, How great thou art, Bless us we pray, Through every day, Amen’