Twas the night before CC, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, except Mama mouse.
The notebooks were stacked by the door with great care,
In hopes that the morning of Day 2 would soon be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of experiments danced in their heads.
Daddy in his office, and I at the table,
Had just plugged our brains in because we were able.
When out by the van there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the table to see what was the matter.
Away to the front window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen dew
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects left outside by the shoe.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature Leigh Bortins, and eight tiny men dressed in school gear.
She, a middle-aged woman, so sharp and filled with glee,
I knew in a moment it must be Ms. B.
More rapid than tiny-tots her coursers they came,
And she whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Timeline! Now, History! Now, Latin and Math!
On, Science! On Geography! On Fine Arts and English!
To the front of the class! To the whiteboard, you run!
It’s time for some learning! It’s time for some fun.”
As pupils that before the the day has begun,
Don’t think about challenges as they’re presented as fun,
Up to the front porch they darted and scrambled,
Bags loaded with books, while Ms. B slowly ambled.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard by the van
The chanting and singing of each little man.
As I pondered in my head, and was turning around,
Down from the driver’s seat Ms. B came with a bound.
Dressed all in wool, from her head to her heel,
Her outfit screamed professional; she was the real deal.
A bundle of literature she had flung on her back,
And looked like a librarian, just opening her pack.
Her eyes—how they twinkled! Her dimples how merry!
Cheeks were like roses, lips like a cherry!
Her droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the hair on her head had a beautiful glow.
The dry-erase held was tight in her fingers,
Leaving black marks that only on a school-marm lingers.
She carried some math games and microscopes too,
And—when she quizzed you, you instantly knew…
She was witty and kind, a right jolly ole’ woman,
And I laughed when I saw her, in spite of myself!
A wink of her eye and a twist of her head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work,
And wrote on the whiteboard, and then turned with a jerk.
And tapping her finger on the side of the frame,
She gave a firm nod, and called each child by name!
Then she sprang to t’ward our van, and to her team gave a whistle,
And away they all peeled like the down off a thistle.
But I heard her exclaim, ‘ere she raced out of sight,
“Have a great day at CC tomorrow, and be sure to go to bed now tonight!
*****
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Clever! You need to send that to CC!
Lis, I’m not sure how you managed this! And I love it!