Our fifteenth year, you and I
If we were married,
the ‘crystal’ mile

And oh, we have had our highs
Breaking up lunchtime fights
Breaking down novels
Line by line

Translating Shakespeare
to Spanish for those
Nonverbal in this language
Dulcet quatrains
Melted into rounded syllables
thick on my tongue
Still we manage
To tease out delicate images

And the consolation of a paycheck
Educators receive
Not enough to ease
the mirage of beach
allure of waves and palm trees
In rude January
(the ultimate schoolyard bully)

You and I have chaperoned this prom
Attended this play
Coached this race, given chase
to elusive grades
Counted victories in syllables
Pivoted around
yawning youths, heads down
on desks or kids
attempting to
find favor with
last minute Starbucks gifts

And still we sit
In September
Whole and hopeful
Rested, restored
Once again to go around this playground
called high school