Back to School

We’ve covered new books and sewn on name tags;
Ironed uniforms and filled the school bags.
The lunches are made – the play lunches, too.
We’re ready to go. Wait, Jack’s lost a shoe!
Panic all round; where can it be?
Look under your bed”. Nothing to see.

The dog’s very quiet; what’s he got there?
A juicy black shoe; we now have a pair!
It looks like we’re ready. A last minute check
For sun-hats and slip-slop, our skins to protect.
Mum’s late for work. Can we get going now?
Dad went by train; couldn’t stand the row.

A fight for the front seat, the one next to mum.
The youngest kid gets it; guess my turn will come.
It’s not a long trip. Soon the school is in sight.
We’ll see our friends soon and set new teachers right.
Mum’s waved us goodbye and left us all here.
We’re stuck with our school work for another long year.

Nancy Litchfield