imagine you're driving today you come upon small farmstead
a red barn and red granary
all the other buildings are white
all them except one small hut
and that one looks standing only
a one-holer with room for one
one can sit or stand person's choice
sears catalog rests on the seat
pages missing, quite a few gone
gone for wiping then down the hole
stinks for heaven eeks up that hole
we drive down the road a short way
another clump of white buildings
four we see and one more red brick
one fairly large, one half its size
those were in the middle of all
two more were way back, lot is large
one of the small rests on the right
identical, left back corner
those two also smell very bad
sears catalogs between holes
these are two-holers, don't know why
left house for boys, right is the girl's
long walk from either sits three more
large right in the middle of all
one on the right is the wood shed
corn cobs too for starting the stove
at recess kids play games of tag
called "anti I over", "here I come"
'It' throws the ball over the top
tries to catch one from other side
kids run to the opposite side
try to get there before they're tagged
who gets caught will be the new 'It'
none will tire until classes start
recess in winter is outside
especially good with fresh snow
that's time for playing 'fox and goose'
another tag game, paths in snow
my main attraction was the large
large white's room, dozens student desks
rows on rows, sort by student size
the first graders are front and right
heating wood stove in mid front row
no air conditioning, windows all open
student recital bench in front
in front of students and the stove
teacher's desk in the very front
ask questions, listen kids recite
watch the students for their raised hands
one or two fingers, toilet needs
up in front of all were blackboards
chalk boards were all across the front
teachers using them to explain
and students showing math work
only door was the one in back
entrance to the mudroom comes first
full of boots, caps, gloves, and jackets
squeaky door separates classroom
_ _ _
List of some things not told in poem
Teachers boarded at the farm house
Room and board, she came every day
Red brick building, steps, storm cellar
Flag pole sits beside the red brick
Initials and names carved on desks
Our school was small, grades one through eight
I was alone, grades three through eight
_ _ _
- Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2024 for Poem, xxx for Photo, All Rights Reserved
- I am linked with Kim at dVerse Poetics,
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