everything's A-OK

Your wits will be lost at one time or another.

Your bedtime will pass you by

and your dogs will think it is funny to wait ‘til the midnight hour

to role play - as the Bumpus Dogs.

When trying to rescue the new kitten, you will trip over the clothes

which have been pulled from the hamper for a cozy bed.

While you begin to pick them up,

you find that your favorite sock has a hole.

You stare at the clock… your students appear.

You drift off to sleep, only to wake five minutes later.

Your mind races with tomorrow’s lessons

and all the troubles of your babies,

as you try to lull yourself to sleep.

Your dog will knock your phone off the nightstand

and your phone will die, thus resulting in

your musical wakeup call of

“Mah Nà Mah Nà” not telling you that

everything’s A-OK.

You will lie in bed for just five more minutes

and promise yourself that you will leave the building

at 3:20, so that you can have an evening for yourself.

Only seconds later do you realize that it is indeed

Thursday and not Friday;

after school tutoring is calling your name.

As you enter the doors of the school

your heart begins to race – students have gathered.

Two girls circle. Eyes dart.

You realize you are the only adult present.

The fight is inevitable and there is nothing you can do.

Finally, you reach your room with five minutes left

until the 7:50 bell  – scrambling to plug in…

suddenly the projector refuses to shine.

You quickly write a journal prompt on the board,

call the IT man and patiently wait.

On your plan, you plan to tackle Mount Vesuvius,

only to realize that your MTSS meeting is today - which you forgot -

because, again, you thought it was Friday.

You take a deep breath and realize your evening at home for you

and the man you love

will be joined by the third wheel; the red pen.

Your body questions its stamina, but only briefly,

as it remembers the poem your mother posted in your room

from the day you were born.

The Englishman reminds you to “hold on,”

keep your head about you, to dream with reason,

and be virtuous and true.

So here you are, the breath, the room full of students, their smiles,

the reminder of why you do what you do.

All for them…

Some days your patience will be tried, your rational will be nixed,

and your perseverance will be tried.

You will be reminded the Earth and everything in it is yours.

 

- Virginia Quincy