The School Day Begins

It’s Monday morning at 7:01
You’re still half asleep; your homework is half done
Your shower is cold; your oatmeal is dry
Your mother forgets to kiss you goodbye
You’re walking to school; it’s thirty degrees
Your fingers won’t work; your toes and ears freeze
Your zipper is stuck; your left sneaker squeaks
Your backpack strap snaps; your soup thermos leaks
You slip on school steps; you trip in the hall
The toilet floods in the bathroom stall
The gym door is locked; the library is the same
The principal greets you by the wrong name
Your classroom is hot; the coat rack is packed
Our bean sprout is dead; your clay pot is cracked
Your pencils are dull; the sharpener jams
Your fingers get crushed when your desktop slams
Your math partner is gone; your neighbor is rude
Your teacher is again in a crabby mood
The morning bell rings; it’s 8:01
Come cozy up to the white board
Another school day has begun

-Vaisakh
Age 12