For a Mentor

Here's a poem I wrote for my high school theater teacher, James K. Shepherd, in honor of his 80th birthday.

One's time on Earth,
Measured from birth,
John Napier could have reckoned
In years or moons
Or coffeespoons
And easily to the second.

But O, to count
The vast amount
Of lives you have inspired:
The awesome might
Of transfinite
From Cantor is required.