National Poetry Month 2022- Poem #27- so much goodness

 

“so much goodness”

I watch her persevere 

arduously spelling word 

after word after word.

long after five-year-old peers

have left the floor and moved on.

she pauses at the scissor box

digs for a minute,

then turns to show me her treasure

“I choose red,” she says,

“because that’s my sister’s favorite color

and I love my sister.”

later I watch again.

most children are at centers.

some manipulate magnetic letters.

others build puzzles. some color.  

she does not go to centers.

instead she cuts inch-sized

squares for a phonics activity.

she trims edges precisely.

her scissors move slowly.

finally, teacher announces recess. 

“will you please cut the last three 

while I glue?” she begs.

“I just want to play outside

 for a little while.” 

Today I am bent over

yet another endless phonics worksheet

helping one of my little guys

copy sixteen three syllable words.

I feel a head resting on my back

and I peek out of the corner of my eye.

"I just love you," she says.

"I just love you."

and I wonder what I ever did to deserve

so much goodness....

(c) Carol Wilcox, 2022