The end-of-school traditions have passed and are now just a warm memory for all of us. Once again, my group worked their way into being “seniors” as the months moved by, and I am proud of their accomplishments. As always, we celebrated with some cookies, a book, and presents.
One of the traditional gifts for each group is a poem that I write for them. This year’s poem almost didn’t happen because the inspiration hit very late, but on the night before their last day, I had an idea that fell onto the page and created the following poem. My graduates will see nods to some of the writings and readings that we completed this year, and I am happy to share. Congratulations to the Eastern Greene High School Class of 2024!
Explore the Freedom
The child rolled around, kicking air
and grasping for the primary-colored toys
until a shaky flop over landed belly-first where
hands and knees coordinated into an Army crawl
giving legs a chance to grow stronger so that
the muscles could begin to understand balance and
explore the freedom of movement.
Then
The child walked into the mouth of the brick
building, being brave and scared, nervous
and excited to meet the teachers even though
the best part seemed to be the classmate with a
wide grin that showed a front-and-center missing tooth
when the swing on the playground catapulted the
small bodies to the curved dome of the sky and
the letters and numbers on the pages stood tall
enough to make meaning and urge the budding minds to
explore the freedom of expanding.
Then
The child leveled slitted eyes of anger that
bubbled up from a gut full of questions and hurt toward the
crowd as pre-teen peers who were supposed to be buddies
pointed and laughed which accidentally leaked the
truth that all of them were awkward jars of hormones
without a clue but who miserably wrestled to be
seen and heard and accepted which showed how they’d
explore the freedom of self-understanding.
Then
The child signed up for classes to meet requirements that
sucked the life out of learning and heaped pressure on
shoulders that turned out to be broad enough to
shuffle responsibilities and have a bit of fun as some
of the lessons ignited a bursting charge of booms and
fizzy sparklers and a pull to watch and gain more
of the talents where confidence continued developing to
explore the freedom of knowledge.
Now
The graduate walks toward the opening of the stage
with a cautious step, afraid that someone will actually
see the child hiding under the gown and entering the mouth
of the brick building where this whole process started while
tassels bob and smack eyes which creates distractions from
the moment that is as big as the gym floor where classmates throw
air-quoted cliches at each other and promise to keep in touch as
names are called and pictures posted of these robe-wearers ready to
explore the freedom of their future.
Lori Vandeventer
May 16, 2024
Written for my EGHS 2024 Graduates
Lori Vandeventer 