1. Cheers- Maddie Kerr, Augustana Class of ‘16
Opening the door, reaching
for the bottle. Depending on
the day, thinking of
reaching for two.
Popping the cork fills
the silence in the house
followed by a long day sigh.
Rubbing my temples,
trying to grasp the day I had,
wondering if my kids went home
reaching in their doors for a
nice cold one after the
day they too had.
“Twenty-five”, I say when someone
asks me if I have kids. They
look at me shocked,until
I set the record straight.
Explaining how each kid is
Unique; advocating to help
the day. Loving what I do, but
I had the day—a reaching for
the bottle kind of day.
Working with kids is
great! People would say,
but just not today.
There are those days
that put you in that way,
when your back is turned
but you know that
Johnny and Sarah are passing notes,
Colin isn’t engaged,
Julie and Shamaria, in the bathroom
Missing what I am saying,
Tyler who can’t sit still,
emails inboxing at will,
Ethan is reading his book,
while Grant is wearisome to
find what Ujan took.
Danya, who can’t communicate
Because her parents decided to migrate,
her eyes flood due to being in a state,
a state of frustrate,
While Troy is counting down the
days to his girlfriend’s due date,
realizing that the act of sex
causes humans to procreate.
Elijah is quiet, but holds a huge flame,
Trying to live up to the family name.
and because of his shame,
considers ending the big game.
Corrinne is just odd while others at
recess pick out what they
think are her flaws.
Doubting if there is a Great Oz,
offering bullies a probable cause;
Malik in an infinite daze. And I,
curious if he will be there always.
Nicole setting high goals to
Get her and her family out of the hole
So she doesn’t become anothernumber in
society’s polls.
Rachel’s voice constant ringing,
“Ms. Kerr, Ms. Kerr, you made a mistake”,
after the fourth time, gives me a headache.
Abby,last night, got a hard hand,
Unskillfully hiding the
bruise with a hair strand;
Everyday I am on the witness stand.
—Oh how I wish the
world was a fairytale land. But,
during the day I can’t get mad
Because I know Chad goes
home to a deadbeat dad;
And if I may add,
Brynn is deciding if
She truly is meant to be a lad.
Lessons to rework, so that
They wont have homework, since
Some of my twenty-five
Go home to only be deprived
By those who
don’t love,
Can’t love,
Wont love,
wishing they could get rid of;
And I a mourning dove,
Protective like a batting glove,
To be patient of, because
at school,I do more for my
high numbered crew
in order to brew
what they knew and not change
but get through,to them
what I see in them everyday.
So yes, I give my kids leeway.
Because, despite the dismay,
I will dream of
those remarkable kids,
who have been given some awful bids.
Even though I had one of those days,
I decided to raise,
my glass, or two, to praise,
my twenty-five kids who can
grow up to amaze.