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Snow Day For Home Schoolers

So we start another day
of school at home,
the boys all bleary-eyed,
morose and slow
with newly-eaten breakfast,
me half-asleep,
fingers warming
on my mug of steaming tea,
the small ceramic heater
whining softly
in the cold front sunroom
that is our classroom,
the chairs marched in from
the dining room
as forlorn
as the boys are,
after Christmas and New Year.

Algebra and geometry,
spanish and biology,
reading, writing,
civics and geography
all ready,
notebooks and lessons
piled neatly
under "Treasure Island",
pirate tales now three-quarters read;
the boys trudge in, faces solemn,
they sign attendance sheets
and with daily bored routine
haul up the blinds across the windows
lined up facing the street outside -

and everything is white,
everything is quiet,
cold softness of a winter storm
blown in overnight,
the maples bowed with heavy snow,
frozen drifts piled high across the road
and large flakes still swirling down,
sparkling from skies of faded gray...

I turn back to my sons
and see delight
where before was only resignation,
I see snowball fights instead of math,
angel imprints in the snow
instead of written words on paper,
steaming breath on icy air
instead of fungi anatomy,
excitement overcoming learning:
they look at me,
I look out at the world turned white
and promising...
"To hell with it, let's have a snow day..."

...and maybe
I say
to myself
as we pile into the car
just maybe
I can teach them physics
as they sled -
- acceleration,
equations,
gravity,
friction and velocity...

...who am I kidding?

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Free verse
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Comments

Every child should have a poet for a father.

Maybe intelligence, joy, mental and spiritual health would be fostered.

Teach your children well....I was looking for a good version of this song by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and found this one.... with great quotes on education. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB2pTOgwrC8

With much respect,
Anna

I can only echo what's already been said ...

thank you !

for your kind comments.
This is the last time I will be at Neopoet for a little while, perhaps a month or so, as I am unwell.
See you soon.

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

I love this:

...and maybe
I say
to myself
as we pile into the car
just maybe
I can teach them physics
as they sled -
- acceleration,
equations,
gravity,
friction and velocity...

...who am I kidding?

p.s.

I read that you are not feeling well. I hope you will be back to your old self very soon. I am lighting candles with well wishes sent in the flames, just for you.

love, Cat (and eddy)

*
When someone reads your work
And responds, please be courteous
And reply in kind, thanks.

I am getting better, faster than was thought.
I see why now: thank you for your gift of light and prayer.
I am glad that you enjoyed this one.

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment

This is great, I really enjoyed the family atmosphere - and the emotional release that comes with a bit of freedom.

This would make a great movie. Sorry you are feeling unwell, I hope you feel better soon.

Thank you for sharing.

Love Mand xxxxxx

Thanks for reading and enjoying.
Yes, the atmosphere was something I wanted to capture, here. It was a very good day, and I loved the looks on my boys' faces when they first saw the new snow.
A movie, huh? Don't put thoughts in my head like that, heehee!
Thank you, I am better, more quickly than everyone thought I would be! And already my spirits are uplifted, just by replying to comments - Neopoet tends to do that to me!

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

author comment
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