Lev Vygotsky was a Russian Jew
Who died at thirty-seven from TB;
But in his time he learned a thing or two
With some relevance, I think, to you and me.
He came up with the idea of ZPL
Which stands for Zone of Proximal Learning,
Being that within which one learns well -
But I’m thinking, what of Proximal Yearning?
If I, through deft poetic teaching,
Had found a way to coach your cautious heart;
If, thereby, tender thoughts had thus been reaching
That secret Zone in you…Ah! What an art!