Day 5 poem

Prompt for #5 poem
Write about a Landmark
This is a poem I wrote in 2007
very little revison done...

School House

Walking past where the school house once lived
I stare in the milieu behind the maple trees,
My imagination carries me to
Visions of the small structure
Calm, sitting nestled in the woods, where
Trees offer shelter—
Mother Nature cradling one of her own
With knotty arms wrapped around its wooden frame
Singing her song to the school house charm
The schoolhouse quiet
Listens

My visions… skip me to children assembled in
The school house with one room,
Wood desks five, ten or more lined in a row
Young girls in petticoats, pigtails, laced shoes and
Open books, ready to learn

Boys wearing coveralls, finished with chores
Push, shove and play strong man games
Some in bare feet, they giggle lacking shame.
Their only care on this day
Is their dreams
Dreams of braids
Neatly plaited, down little girls backs
Lying soft— calling—tempting boys’ desires
Of an ink well rendezvous.
Mischievously they anticipate perfectly tinted curls

Miss schoolmarm at the chalkboard
In a long fitted dress, hair in a bun
Laughs quietly at the dirty faces to learn
She’s seen them so many times
Inkwell phantoms
Dancing with the boys

“No ink well for you today,” she says,
“No ink well for you.”
They awe shucks and open their books.
Tomorrow, they ponder… will be another day

The school will remain nestled in the woods
Boys’ desire will tempt
While girls braids wait
All cradled in woody arms
one of Mother Nature’s own
Swaying in a lullaby of The Schoolhouse charm


Kellie M Shanley © 2007 revised 2009