Thursday, August 13, 2009

Fourth Grade (SWF)


I remember school days, early fall, and a heat on the playground so fierce that, once back inside the classroom, the teacher would tell us, “Heads down all around”—
the cold, flat desktop, a cool cloth placed on 30 sweaty heads and faces reddened with the racing games of 9-year-olds at recess.


Across the darkened room, rows of bowed heads on bent forms waited, silhouetted against the bright light of the windows, as teacher rustled through papers at her desk or her footsteps slipped out the door and trailed off down the hall, gathering things for class.


From beneath my elbow in the quiet room, I could see others’ eyes straining to find her, their cheeks firmly glued to the wonderfully cool slab. And one curious head, lifting and looking for a moment--before finding teacher’s eye and relaxing again onto the calming surface.
Until, with all rested and settled quietly to begin, she moved to the doorway and turned on the light.



Every head lifts and turns—
and follows her path around the room.




Morning dew
on spider web suspended from a sunflower



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25 comments:

Wanda..... said...

I loved this Nina...just like the sunflowers that turn to follow the sun.

Arija said...

Nina, what a wonderful story from childhood and a glorious treat of sunflowers as well as the brilliant spiderweb to finish off.
Enlarging increases the magic at least tenfold.

Arija said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bobbie said...

What is so lovely as a field of sunflowers? The spider web is the perfect finishing touch.

Deborah Godin said...

You had me nodding to this one, in appreciation of the photos, and in memory of school days long past.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

What a sweet memory. Today the children in our little city started school. Those were the days...

Texas Travelers said...

Great prose and imagery.
Nice photos, especially the dew on the spider web. those are not easy to photograph. well done.

Come visit 'Prairie Barrens' under a hot sky, Click here.
Troy and Martha

Mel said...

I love your stories and the way you imprint your poetry to simple, yet wonderful, moments.

indicaspecies said...

I like how you have likened the bowed heads of the 4th graders to the heads of these sunflowers. Lovely post, and beautiful flowers.

sweetbay said...

Glorious sunflower pictures. It is amazing to see how they follow the sun.

Jim said...

fantastic flowers
Sydney - City and Suburbs

KGMom said...

Nina--wonderful evocative story and great pairing with sunflower shots.
What an interesting way the teacher had of getting all of you calmed down and attentive to her.

Anonymous said...

beautiful story to go along with such wonderful photo's...It was as if the story was smiling! Thanks for sharing...Happy Friday! :)

Regina said...

I love nature. These are awesome.
A happy flower.

Leslie: said...

Lovely analogy! As a fourth-grade teacher I can certainly relate.

Light and Voices said...

Lovely words to be tagged with lovely photos. Nice job!
jfm

Kathie Brown said...

Very nice analogy! Love the photography! Well done Nina!

quilly said...

What a glorious riot of sunflowers. I would have loved to have been there to take photos with you! Your writing is exquisite, too! Thank you for sharing.

Eric said...

Make me smiling....love the colors and the sunflowers as well

Have a nice SWF

Mary said...

Nina, I'm just blown away here admidst the office noises muffled in the background...suddenly I'm back in school with my head down, lights out.

Thanks. I needed a break.

You amaze me. This post is wonderful.

Mary

Hundewanderer said...

Amazing story and photos. Sunflowers are my favorite flower.

abb said...

Love the last photo. It's just beautiful!

Cicero Sings said...

I remember heads down lights out. I wonder if they do it any more? Thanks for the memory.

SandyCarlson said...

That was a fun read. I remember it that way, too. Was so good.

Unknown said...

Your photos are amazing and so inspiring.