Sloths climb up trees
with permanent smiles on their faces
like Sesame Street puppets
their movement is slow
almost robotic.  

Progress is slow
But we love it, the principal says.  

One sloth embraces
a younger one
and they rest,
their marble eyes slowly closing.  

He says, I just particularly like these students
because there’s so much untapped potential.  

The sloths doggy paddle through the river
on their leisurely journey.