"That he who there at such an hour hath been,
will wistful linger on that hallowed spot." ~ Byron
A HALLOWED SPOT
In a foreign land so wistful, with fear so unavoidably stark,
I massaged the earth by fistful, withdrawn, in a fetal-curled-up dark.
Suddenly! Pensively surreal, I could hear my hometown church bells peal,
And someone's dog with a distant bark.
A mailman smiled as he passed near by, the old man swatting that annoying fly.
An ice cream truck came down the street. Mother and I enjoyed a treat.
Off to work my Father went for thus he earned and thus we spent.
"Don't be late for school!" he'd say, as Mom would see me off each day.
Off to that wonderful place with social grace, that Kindergarten.
Learning caring, all about sharing and begging one's pardon...
Scenes of drama and trauma always at play that very first day.
Both trying, though crying, at the doorway with Mom going away
Everyone so small, but never so tall while saluting the flag.
A hum dinger! Zigzag painting by finger in Dad's old rag.
Dragging along, hand in palm, one cool Mom; showing the teacher
Soaring on wings of playground swings, higher than the bleacher.
Hearing a firm but oh so stern: "Hey! One does not hit."
Funny thing... everything has a place when doing one's bit.
There's a budget crunch, with brown-bag-lunch and chocolate milk.
The teacher's golden hair and her shapely pair in shinning silk.
Sudden flare, that love affair and plan to marry the teacher.
Fearful, tearful moments, over that first grade bully creature.
Ringing bells and ticking clocks, taking naps and playing blocks.
Head-down walks to the principal's office for loving gentle talks.
Skipping and sidewalk sand-skating home to those waiting arms
Watching Mom look at the coloring-book and smiling her charms
So compelling! That moment telling Daddy, "How big so far."
Hearing his views of the evening news and that yucky cigar;
Rehearsal day, the Christmas play and parents brightly gleaming.
Performance day, when fear gives way to a face hiding it's beaming.
"School's out! School's out! Teacher lets the mules out."
Yes, with character ... later to harden. In that wonderful place with social grace,
that Kindergarten, 't was there, I hied so high above the war,
sheltered there on nature's floor, far beyond the reach of vanity,
where nostalgia moderated the war and its insanity.