Preschool Pick-up
We lost him today,
Teacher told me at pick-up time,
just wanted you to know.
What happened?
We were watching. We are always watching, but he
wandered off... chasing after a goose.
He loves to chase birds.
We called the whole office to help look for him,
and we found him quickly. He was fine.
He didn’t seem to know he’d been lost.
I nod understanding but suddenly find
my hand lacking his. Drop smile. Run fast.
Catch. Carry to car. Open door. Car seat.
Buckle. Snap. Slight tug. Get in front.
Heart-thump. Wipe eyes. Sigh.
Re-wonder the facets:
Can he keep the freedom of his flight-loving
soul in this world of foot-heavy people?
Will he emerge from childhood all grown up into himself?
Is it not possible to chase feathered moments
safely into tall grass?
What do geese do on Thursdays?
She said they lost him today,
but was he?
And what about the joy he finds
when chasing geese?
