The Bookbag ~

'Twas morning on the way to school
my coming down the unpaved alley
to turn toward the sun
on Walnut Street
and walk out over to Elm
and up the asphalted slope
to Monroe 

where the sun was just up
over the roofs
and I standing there, 

bookbag handle in hand 

and breathing deep—
I know now what I wanted:

'Twas to hug the morning
in both outstretched arms and
hold it long,
before turning right
and walking slowly down across Brady
to the stone school house
for yet another

second grader's school day.