I listen as the cardboard seal breaks
when she opens her sixty-four count box
of Crayolas on the first day of school.
I fumble through my supplies, searching
for something that might work.  She retrieves
the one marked “Goldenrod,” and begins
coloring a picture of Kentucky’s State
Flower.  I hear the waxy stick rub against
her paper.  A perfect choice!  She mirrors
the ideals of her parents: only the best
for the best.  As the day wanes, she places
her box of colors into a new backpack
before the dismissal  bell rings.
I use a crayon simply marked
“yellow,” then gather my broken
colors into last year’s pencil box.