When lacey flakes fall,
rather than struggle with a class
that has completely lost focus,
it’s better to take a few minutes
and admire the moment—
then take the opportunity
to write a winter haiku.
Some students will inevitably ask
“When are we going home?
I tell the class, teachers don’t have the power
to make that decision.
“Can we complain to the principal?”
He doesn’t make that decision either.
You are going to have to call the district office
and talk to the superintendent.
Crestfallen, what they thought was simple is complex.
Another student says, “If it keeps snowing,
they will have to send us home early.”
Not necessarily. There aren’t enough busses
to take everyone home at the same time.
Elementary schools go home first.
Then the buses will arrive for you
as they always do.
Tonight, perform your snow dance, and hope
school gets cancelled tomorrow.
Driving home, it takes almost two hours
to travel 15 miles on icy roads.
The weather report predicts
four to six inches accumulation.
The local districts never make a determination early.
That would be too easy. They don’t want to lose
federal money for each day they are closed.
My alarm buzzes me awake at 5 AM.
I watch the local news, pull up
the district’s web site, and wait
to find out if classes are cancelled.
All the while, dancing in a circle
inside my head, index fingers pointing
at the sky, trying to poke more snow
from the clouds.
