Moments of Joy
The penny has dropped And the child understands Acknowledging lies A way for the truth is forged Cautious, watchful child A tight bud unfurling Cracks a joke Just getting his jaw teeth Feelings glimpsed in paint Consolation of the wise “Your hair will calm down.” The reticent child Questioning at last Child deep in concentration Pinging the guitar The older tending the younger In the playground Wrestling senior against junior Winks at me and utters Appropriate noises of defeat A sea of attentive faces Waiting to learn Targets met, achievement Striving, stretching reaching minds Scrawl transformed Beautiful penmanship Buzz of working children Colours in each phase of growth One child defending another When I am wrong My schoolchildren My job 1998 |