Freedamomma sneak attack

Year End

It is spring time in San Antonio
The weather has dropped to a “cool� 75 degrees each morning
My student’s file inside the classroom,
wearing sweaters over khaki uniform shorts.

The bell rings, class has ended,
and they are reluctant to step outside,
knowing that the ripe smell
of left over cafeteria breakfast
is baking in the
dumpster standing just outside my classroom.
They think of excuses to linger,
“¿Necesitas ayuda Maestra?�

I read aloud to them for “just five more minutes�
in our little tin can, portable classroom
where we bake like so many small brown tropical flowers
in our blue and yellow T-shirts,
emblazoned with the school logo.
The window air unit remains untouched,
we complain that it makes our arms and bones feel cold,
and instead decorate the room with
brightly colored butterflies and paper flowers.
© Sasha-Nicole Varner, 2006

Hey momma's:
I have survived my first year of teaching somewhat intact, even if I have already had to call in the teacher's union, and hire an attorney on retainer...they are giving me hell. I am so missing the mamas. Unfortunately, the school does not allow us to access this site...something about "this combination of hip + mama is restricted blah blah blah" anyway, I am major stressed but looking forward to hitting Hip Mama big time in just another two weeks or so once school is over and life ain't so crazy. Will fill in more later, but I literally...almost lost my mind this year mommas. Hope all is well with my sistahs. Miss y'all.
Freeda