June, July, and August or Why I Love Summer Break, by Julie Wold Peterson, July 2002

Summer break,

it's me again!

No longer the sleep-deprived teacher

bartering with time,

Engaging in that lifelong battle

that always ends with time ahead and me behind.

No--summer presents the gift of time,

full of choices both rich and frivolous.

Senses no longer numbed by grading,

seconds pass slowly as I savor the life around me.

In summer,

life within me breathes fully.

Today I read and write,

words in play for my entertainment.

Tomorrow--friends and family,

sharing stories around the campfire.

Each day, I pursue my latest project,

purposeful in caring for this self who's come up for air.

Every night, I sing and dance,

music winding its way into my dreams.

Summer break is best, however,

because it ends.

I begin it in recovery

and end in training.

Memories of past students

come through the sun's haze.

Promises of future students

rise as our garden stretches toward the light.

Eventually comes the itch

to read and prepare, readying myself

for the best school year yet.

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