School Rooms

At the end of the day
the school yard was cloudy
chalk dust floating on the air
from the lucky student
chosen to clean the erasers
the board would be wiped clean
with warm water
another lucky soul
chosen for the task
I retrace my steps through memory
book bags and dittos with their purpled ink
and the quiet of study times
school rooms that welcomed us
on first days and everydays
halls that feel familiar even today – Caroline A. Slee