Wonder and Wander
I was cleaning out the garage, to downsize,
opened a cabinet and stared
at thirty years of teaching.
Each contained in as many photo albums.
How have I forgotten these treasures?
It hasn’t been that long ago!
A first collection, at a new school—
competitions and recitations
and ribbons of the rainbows.
Smiling faces.
One, Becca in a white spring hat and pink sundress.
She looks up: ¡Señora!
Her voice jumps off the page,
Aren’t you proud?
Sí. And I was.
Another image of teens creating piñatas after school.
I feel the tackiness of the glue, hear:
¿Bueno?
Me: Sí. ¡Fantástico!
Another appears—
an ordinary day in class.
Tables in a big circle, as always, in an English class.
Someone asked, Did Dickens write anything besides A Christmas Carol?
Yes. I recall that winter break
delving into David Copperfield,
hot chocolate in hand each day,
to share a few passages.
A handful of photos.
A few of many memories.
To keep where?
Another album calls.
I’m not ready to let go.
I pile all into a box.
Wonder and wander back.
Who was I then?
I made it to bed late that day, after
taping it all up. All still—
of a lifetime ago.
Who am I now?
Who will I be?
Will I remember it all?
4 thoughts on "Wonder and Wander"
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Great title, Michele. Powerful poem with good memories. My favorite is the last verse “Who am I now? Who will I be? Will I remember it all? And I ask myself; will I remember it all?
love the specifics, the back and forth in Spanish . . . I can relate to all and the three questions at the end
The title is great, also the idea of all being still as you finish reminiscing.
Like how you describe picture then make the”still” come alive! I have been trying to downsize for years—this is why progress is slow! I found pics of my class from student teaching and couldn’t remember one name or even identify the context picture was taken.