Steps

Our playground sits above our school
Cut into the top of the nearby hill
Up more than two flights of stairs
Part steps, part path

My arthritic knees carry me slowly, slowly
While dozens of children thunder past me
They are already deep in play
When I make my way to my favorite bench

The other teacher leads the games
Kickball, or Quidditch, or Sharks and Minnows
While I sort out the disputes
and watch for rough play

Each day, a little victory
I made it to the top again
Each day, a little apprehension
How long can these old knees keep up?

We gather them in
And head down the path
Tomorrow I face my toughest challenge
yet again.