Back-to-School

Landing here on my palm

With new tree of possibility in hand

I notice my travel back in time

Back-to-school from future land

Like seeds that soar from tree

To ground, with swirly upends

taking flight back into me,

The learning journey never ends

As much as they’re weighted,

Designed to nestle in ground

Samaras also extend to fly

Taking lift without sound

No wonder I always feel the pull

For both in fall—

A need to softly root & curiously reach

Helicopters! Oh helicopters!!

My friends & I would screech

The thrill of their whirl in autumn

wind, Swept our spirits high

Our routine steps back-to-school

Planting firmly on the earth

Yet with a skip and a twirl in sky

As my children now embark

Take their own steps back-to-school

What return to learn will I engage

What is MY school

of eager twirl & grounded courage?

Whirling Samaras landing here

Asks me what new school will I attend

What tree of possibilities will appear

May all our back-to-schools extend

Be met with both the root & the reach

May every moment be a time

To return, to learn and to teach

With more Joy and more Peace