Water splashes up with joy
Bottoms down in playful ploy
A splash is meant as a decoy
The failing grin just makes her coy
Water sparkles on the skin
Drips from wildly grinning chin
Eager for the game to win
Awakes my child deep within
Join her game and water sport
Sidelines leave our fun to court
Don’t doddle, life is short
Come and join a child’s cavort
©Mary Grace van der Kroef 2020
Raw, unhindered,
Rising from the soul
It’s joy inside a child
It loses all control
In losing becomes whole
©Mary Grace van der Kroef 2020
Falling from the sky
Unsure the reason why
Hear a soft reply
Angels don’t always fly
There’s more to love beneath the sky
©Mary Grace van der Kroef 2020
She found a Rainy Day
With it, had her way
Added to her play
Then carefully tucked away
Her treasured Rainy Day
For another soon to play
Skipping walked away
Down the path made her way
Wave goodbye to Rainy Day
©Mary Grace van der Kroef 2020
Dirt upon my floor
I know it as much more
Within the scattered mess
Hidden proof I’m blessed
Dried play dough there
A moment without care
Bread crumbs careless brushed
Bellies filled, hunger hushed
Sand tracked all this way
Hearts a brim with play
While I push a broom
Do not now presume
As I cast it out
There is not a doubt
The memories I’ve saved
In my heart, they are engraved
©Mary Grace van der Kroef 2020
The table is strewn with papers. Books are piled up at its edges. The floor is covered with loose papers, toppled piles of books, pencil shavings. The Student is no longer sitting in the chair. It is pushed away from the table.
The dejected pile of humanity sits on the floor. Tears flowing, while hands, black from ink, cover a downcast face.
“So much.”
Whispers. Half sobs.
“There is so much, so much I don’t know. So much left.”
Shoulders shake with emotions. Bottled, but beginning to seep out.
“How.”
Trembling.
“How will I ever finish?”
The bottle cap gives way. True desperation is now flowing out, like from a shaken soda.
“You never will.” The teacher gently rebukes.
An open book is picked up from the floor and gently dusted off. The page corners soothed before it’s placed back on to the table.
“No one ever stops being a student. Not even when they become a teacher.”
Some papers are shuffled together and laid flat into a pile. A pencil is placed back with its counterparts in a small pot. A pen soon joins them all.
“I’m so overwhelmed.” Student’s voice sounds like sandpaper.
“Good. You have learned something wonderful. Let’s have some tea.”
©Mary Grace van der Kroef 2020
I would welcome any and all feedback on this piece. ~ M.G. van der Kroef
Mary Grace Writing 