each of our faculty members

were allowed to go into their room alone for 30 minutes

during that time we could take

whatever we imagined we might need

to teach school — for the rest of the year.

walking into my building, it was silent

 i saw the ‘welcome back to the sun’ and ‘happy spring’ artwork

my class had created for the hall

expecting to be back soon after our spring break

walking into my classroom

it was sad

left as it was back in mid-march

memories, things undone, things i wish i could still do with my class

cards, and art, and notes, and pictures, and colors, and books

30 minutes to decide what to take

 i filled my bags with toys and books and art and puppets

 anything i thought might make my kinder feel a sense of comfort

as i teach them from afar and show them familiar things

 it was hard to close the door on the year

 knowing i will stay connected to each of them

but also knowing

something will be lost

in not spending my school days

sharing a room with them.

—

“time flies over us, 

but leaves its shadow behind. “

-nathaniel hawthorne