Starting Third Grade

Judy Endow, MSW

judyendow.com

Too much new

                  for back to school

                                    is
why I just                   
don’t like it,

                  though

                                    
each new thing

                                              all
by                    itself

                                                          is entirely

                                                                            acceptable.

New
shiny shoes

                  I
do so love

                                    
new
ribbons in                my
hair

                  a freshly pressed

                                    
brand
new pink                  dress

                                                 
Oh
      …….

                                                          
ain’t I

                                                                            debonair!

My
satchel packed

                  with
all new things

                                    
with all the stuff I
              
need

                  sits on
the floor

                                    
next to the                   
door

                                              
just waiting

                                                          
for me

                                                                            to leave!

New
class lists

                  
posted on the
                doors;

                                    
the students find their
              
names.

 

                  
They take their
                  seats

                                     and wait to
                  see

                                                  what will

                                                       
this brand new teacher

                                                            say!

“Unpack
supplies.

                  
Get settled in.

                                    
My name is on the
                  board.”

                  
On and on

                                    
her voice keeps
                  speaking

                                                  
way much

                                                           too many 

                                                                      words.

Her
voice
         
plows
on

                  
it will not
                  quit.

                                    
Words heap up in a                pile,

                  
while yellow
                  chalk

                                    
adds                to the
                  talk.

                                                          
School

                                                               
just ain’t

                                                                            
my
         style.

Time
for
         
recess.

                  
Go
                  
outside.

                                    
New
         
playground has no
               shade.

                  
Kids
                  
race about;

                                    
they         run and                   
shout.

                                                          At
         
recess

                                                                I might

                                                                              
die.

I stand                 
real
         still

                  
and close
          my
         
eyes.

                            The
          teacher comes
         
by
        me.

                   She
does
         
smell
        nice,

                            but
          
I’ve
         
made up
        my
         
mind…..

                                             I right now

                                                                  quit

                                                                            
third grade.

—-

This poem was originally published in Judy’s book Making Lemonade: Hints for Autism’s Helpers.