"Melody Nicole Kazee"

I love to play with babies

And I’ll have one in the future, maybe

At this time in my life, I will not.

But here I am in class

in the hallway, on the sidewalk, in the grass

outside my house, and I’ve got

this bag of flower.

My teacher gave it so much power.

I would fail if I forgot

to carry her with me down the halls,

to protect her from falls.

In a basket that I brought

with me wherever I was able,

and she sat up on the table

as my sister and I 
baked her sisters into cookies and pies.

"Back to School Blues"

I came back to school to get a break from my vacation.

I feel like I’ve traveled half way across the nation

but I’ve barely left my home town.

It hasn’t been long since I’ve walked down

the halls of my school—I’ve worked here all summer

at a camp with Mrs. Mackey. It’s such a bummer

that I can’t walk through the halls whenever I please

or get a tissue without asking if I’m allowed to sneeze.

Now it is time. Senior year is really here.

I’m getting accustomed to watching the freshman’s fear

 as the walk through the hall.

I’m at the top of the food chain- we used to be small

little freshman too, but that was long ago.

I’ve been here for years. I understand the ebb and flow

of the hallways between classes- I know the janitor’s by name

but I know next year, none of this will be the same.