Break

The playground floods with young. Immediately
Soprano shouts and shrieks confirm a brief
Suspension of the classroom discipline
As teachers snatch their momentary relief.

Much action. Arms and legs. A whirl of play.
Argument and laughter, games of "It".
Some expert footwork over skipping ropes
And balls projected, tossed up, kicked and hit.

Less physical, in corners, twos and threes
Debate the pressing issues of the day
Or tease each other, hatch a wicked plot
To cause some hapless teacher disarray.

But dallying on the fringe a child stands
Alone and sadly contemplates its shoes.
No place in the kaleidoscope for it.
Is loneliness an option it would choose ?


(c) John Wedge 1999