Budding Scholars

Welcome, Flowers.

Write your name on a name tag.

Find a seat.

Raise your leaf if you've taken a class here before.

Let's go around the room.

Call out your colors.

I see someone's petal has fallen—

please pick it up and put it in your desk

where it belongs.

Sprinklers at recess,

fertilizer for lunch,

and you may snack on the sun throughout the day.

Excuse me . . .

what's that in your mouth?

A bee?

Did you

bring enough

for everyone?

Source: Sharing the Seasons: A Book of Poems (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010)