Late Friday afternoon
the playground
chimes
with voices calling out
after months
of silence.
Students long ago
shooed home after last bell,
a discouragement
to gather
that has become
the norm.
But
on this last day
of winter
that does not feel
like winter anymore,
kids return,
and the playground
comes back to life.
Feet slide through rocks
as kids chase and laugh.
Swings clang.
Balls bounce.
Hands squeak across bars.
Suddenly
a deer springs
along the edge of the field:
Two, three, four—
no, it’s five!
Bounding in line
as if they
have come out to play.
We all freeze—
kids hanging from monkey bars,
at the tops of slides,
playing basketball.
Parents taking eyes off kids,
me on my way
to my car—
we all freeze—
hands at our foreheads.
We watch
and we hope.
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Today was filled with hope! I can just hear the children’s voices outside and picture you all freezing to take in the majesty of nature’s beauty passing through the playground.
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My favorite is how you counted the deer as they came into sight. It made feel like I was putting my hand to my forehead and freezing right along with you.
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What a delightful collection of phrases and images here. I can picture the “shooing away” of students last year. It’s what we did – of only we knew what a farewell it really would be. Then there’s the scene of everyone outside, the joyful chaos of children in the school yard we no longer take for granted. And then, once again, all stops – only this time, for a moment of wonder. Beautiful.
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Amy, I love this, from the hands squeaking on the monkey bars to the communal appreciation of the deer. It’s a beautiful moment.
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Thanks, Melanie!
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I love what a hopeful tone your slice has, while acknowledging the contrast to last year.
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Love the image of feet sliding through rocks. This post is really about renewal and a fresh start, and I really appreciate the way you’ve ended it on a hopeful note. Seems like we all need it at the moment. Thanks for a beautiful slice! 🙂
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This is so beautiful, Amy. I can feel the joy!
I especially loved this stanza:
Students long ago
shooed home after last bell,
a discouragement
to gather
that has become
the norm.
Being shooed home… that sure is how it felt.
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Wow! What a beautiful snapshot! I love the last two lines!
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Thanks, Carol! I really appreciate all your thoughtful comments on my recent posts.
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