rushing down the hall on a mission of mercy to coax or defend to steady amidst chaos the principal has our back

this is our safe place take a rest, a bite, a pee welcome teacher’s lounge

Performing in front of parents is a collective moment of shared humiliation. The umbilical cord connecting them to their parents weakens a little under the harsh stage lights that bleach their eye sockets and inextricably and tightly binds them into a group. dangling astronauts grasping…

blue and red pancake round and round and round she goes leave her alone please  

are you married and how old are you teacher and do you have children?   mind your manners child it is not polite to ask yes I am twenty

Mimosa blossoms shine like orbs of tiny suns raining pink feathers

to count to three and after eat the M&M’s all week he struggles flicker of light in his eyes his victory is short-lived    

the first day they learn conveyor belt of children red apple for lunch

the scent of childhood butterflies, sailboats and fish break out the crayons  

a train lumbering spray painted rusty cars children stop their play they face an alien beast each day — it never gets old