TheBanyanTree: Starting School

[Sharon Mack]

Yep, it's that time again.  The kids are heading back to school.  All of
mine are grown, but I wrote these poems for my 2 daughters who started
school 2 years apart.  Here's to Shannon and Jennifer (40 and 38
respectively).  I told you we were waxing nostalgic.... (smile)

 

 

FIRST DAY

                                    

Picture of brightness,

A child untouched

Sleeps beneath the rafters

Of this house.

 

I want to keep you.

Let you linger

In your angelic sleep

Just a bit longer.

 

But society calls

And you ride to it

With a tear in your eye

On a yellow bus.

 

 

JENNIFER'S FIRST DAY

 

I don't think 

I was that good 

of a Mom 

even though 

I tried real hard

and I loved you

with all my might.  

 

The #8 picture

reminded me 

of you 

going to Kindergarten

that first day.  

 

For some reason 

your leaving 

the home 

hurt the most,

much more

than the others.

Somehow, 

they seemed

ready.  

 

You were so frail and tiny.  

You put your hand on the window 

and I put mine on yours 

from the other side 

and I left it there, 

even walking 

along the side of the bus 

till I couldn't anymore.  

 

Then you turned 

and held on to the back 

of the cracked 

brown leather seat,

and caught me 

in your view,

watching me

wave at you.  

 

I cried  

silent tears 

softly flowing

to my lips, my chin.

 

You did not wave, 

just stared

keeping careful watch

with your big brown eyes 

open wide with fear.