The One in Front
These five-year olds are new to school,
New to everything, really, they have to be taught.
PT is good for them, and competition,
Backing yourself against all others, well -
She lined them up for the race,
The gigglers subdued, the slow ones
Pulled into place. Discipline, that was the thing.
Now, she said loudly, Be ready, Off.
And little hands clenched and lifted,
Little legs lifted heels, and began to run,
And the line was ragged.
One edged forward from the crowd at the front,
Not far from the finish, arms and legs flailing.
She glanced back and saw another child behind,
Stopped, and stood aside, smiling, to let her pass.
*
No, I wasn’t stupid, nor even rebellious,
And hardly a budding saint.
I did not like the running thing,
And I saw that Sylvia,
Red-faced and panting like a steam-engine,
Almost ready to cry, wanted to pass me.
I was glad that she should, and as she reached the line,
Gave her a friendly push from behind.
Page(s) 30
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