Gift from a kindergartener

I started this blog in attempt to connect two passions: teaching and writing. I hoped it would prompt me to approach each teaching moment mindfully, and to develop the habit of keeping my journal handy. So much for intentions. Switching from teaching high school to kindergarten didn't help. Kindergarten is hard!

Thanks, Gustavo, for the jump-start!

Gift

“Line up!” I chirp.
Knowing they won’t.
“Time for music
in Mrs. Leo's room!"
I grab a c.d:
“Spider on the Floor,”
“Macarena Months . . .”
my kindergarten mix
will have to do.
“Line up now, friends!”
Parent notes to write,
I’d rather write a poem,
calendar’s not ready, and
they leave right after music.
“Hurry, friends. Line up!”
Refusing to tap each child
on the shoulder:
it’s March!
“Line up, everybody!”
Don’t forget bus duty,
report cards are due,
meeting after school,
and I said I’d write a poem
for tomorrow.

"Line up, teacher?"
Blocks are tossed in the bin,
Lego rockets stashed
on the window sill.
“Hey, I’m line leader!”
Students elbow
their way to the door:

Gustavo sits alone
at the writing center,
big brown eyes
fixed on what he’s drawing.
“Gus-ta-vo, please!
It’s time to line up.
We’re late for Mrs. Leo.
You can finish to-mor-row.”
I hate report cards,
I want to write a poem,
I hope she brought her boom box.
Does he even hear me?

Gustavo folds the paper
he’s been toiling over,
carries it past the so-called line,
presses it into my hand:
“You, Jenniber.”
On the way to Mrs. Leo's room
I take a peek:
It’s me! In green pencil,
‘Jennifer’ printed above my head:
long hair, stern eyebrows, big smile . . .
three giant fingers
on each outstretched hand.
On my torso a red triangle
boldly outlines a superman S.
This superhero is a teacher.
Gustavo has given me my poem.