The first day of school was a drag for me.
The building was big and nothing was free.
In class I wanted to draw a boat
with water that kept it afloat,
but Miss Buckley said to draw a flower.
"Do as I say," she said with power.
"Make the stem green and the petal red,
you must do it like this," she said.
Then the next day we worked with clay.
"We'll make a dish and we'll do it my way."
I learned to listen and do as I'm told,
day after day as I grew old.
Then it came to be moving day,
a brand new school with brand new ways.
"Draw me a picture," Miss Smith said to the class.
I didn't know what to draw so I figured I'd ask.
"Draw anything that comes to mind,
maybe a cat or something of that kind."
At last I looked at the red and green flower I'd drawn.
Where have all my ideas gone?

by A. M., Lunenburg, MA



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