That Point In Time, When We Were Part OF The Milky Way And Knew It

you will write on highway wide and pale blue lines
and learn to love the Thorndike-Barnhardt dictionary
its earnest illustrations;

its faded red colour

having been used by another previously in the Arkansas School system
as it was back then.
learn the Mexican Hat Dance for assembly

and how to play a child sized popsicle coloured xylophone
thinking of notes as red and green, with orange thrown in;
wear dresses picked out by your Grandmother

sash tied at the back

in gingham plaids, and glorious pastels
and float on the playground as if you were a cloud
hovering near the honeysuckle bushes

swing on the swings
and ride the buses with the older children
carrying their flutophones 

in serious cases.
and jump rope every way you can think of
till the dust flies up

in the early Spring bordering on summers
to be helped with homework, flash cards, the Bard
and on to the evening meal, so many chicken pies

under eternal starlight
in Little Rock.

mary angela douglas july 15 2019