As the academic year nears its end, the book of learning shows
glowing signs of love and wear—dog-eared pages,
some stained blue by jelly fingers, cello tape mending tears,
with certain words shining highlighter yellow
and thought scribbles decorating the margins.
A multitude of bookmarks divide distinct sections,
and here and there a page is absent.
So many hands held this essential tome—
teacher and pupil, helpful parents as homework partners
once dinner and dishes were done,
now and then an older sibling making sure the maths add up.
See it put up on the classroom shelf,
joining the glory library in this museum of hope and wonder,
whose doors now close
for the occupants need grass and beach and wild biking.
Gene Kahane is the founder of the Foodbank Players, a lifelong teacher, and former Poet Laureate for the City of Alameda. Reach him at [email protected]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Gene-Kahane.
