[The writers here at Drinkers with Writing Problems love our writing prompts. This poem was created from the prompt “Back to School” that we explored at our most recent writing meeting. Follow us for the next two weeks for more interpretations on this theme.]
The last expanse of summer
Forgotten.
Rows and rows
Waiting
Just for me,
Begging to fulfill their utility.
Their smell fresh as fall
Of crisp air,
Sweaters pulled from the backs of drawers
Layers of expectations
A pliant pink eraser
Pureness in form
Untouched by the mistakes
It was made to obliterate.
White glue bottles with orange tops,
Before crust of use
Or gouge of scissors.
Scent of notebook paper
Unmarked by thoughts, dates, lists, completed assignments.
A thrilling new lunchbox
All the promise of sustenance
None of the old sandwich smells, rotting bananas, or artificial pudding.
Even the itchiness of hand-me-down uniforms
Comforts me,
Nostalgia forgetting the awkward unflattering tailoring, yellowed collars, and pit stains.
The sagging gym clothes
With decaying elastic.
There’s nothing like the unsharpened pencil
Or the unopened box of markers
To set my soul at ease.
I’ve traded it for unused sticky notes
Crisp manila folders
New pens
Shiny paper clips
Rubber band balls.
My childhood loves
Follow me into the adult world of work.
Drinkers with Writing Problems 