Last Day Of School

Heat pours out of the sky, into our skins
Off the pavement and the yellow bus.

Only a few more hours and they're free,
No bells dictating the day's divisions

Just me ordering them to brush their teeth.
There's no such thing as a hygiene holiday.

Knapsacks emptied, notebooks spilled
Taped back together for next year- inventories

Kept for another grade up, another age.
Report cards rule some families. Importance

Misplaced. I'd still love them if they failed.
They didn't. I note the improvement proudly.

New pencils bought, old markers gathered, all
In last year's knapsack, to hide in the closet.

Forgotten. All summer we can ignore them
Until the first weekend in September. Summer starts

Now. Othermothers groan. They roll their
Eyes and moan. Don't know what to do

With their kids. I know. Enjoy them.
Ride horses, ride bikes swim eat do nothing.

Books to read and movies to be made. We are
Free. Wipe my wet forehead and greet the bus.

For the last time this summer.