this one's one of my favorites!! did you guys also go to science camp in fifth grade?
---
we left on a
foggy monday morning
a hundred of us
piled into a
little yellow bus
the trees rose high
in the distance
closer and closer
as we drove on
fingertips pressed
against the cool
glass windows
awe-filled gazes
turned up
towards the
evergreens
we unloaded
nike sneakers on
rough gravel
dust kicked up as
we dragged our
luggage
towards the
cabins
whispers of
"finally
finally
finally"
we had been
waiting for this
moment
hushed voices
and reverent
gazes
the occasional
shout
that sent
birds of all
sizes and colors
flying into the
sky
like shrapnel
from a gunshot
and above that
the low, ever-existing
hum
of "finally, finally
finally"
the sun crept its
way
across the
robin's egg
blue
past cotton-ball
clouds
scattered over
the expanse of
sky
like powdered
sugar
on a homemade
cake
hands clutched
hands
tightly
as the stars
shimmered into
view
nature seemed
(to a crowd of
suburban kids)
for the first time
otherworldly
pizza was served
plates swept away
footsteps pounded
off towards
mattresses
that parents would
certainly
disapprove of
"finally"
we whispered
as sheets were
pulled up to our
chins
and bedtime
stories
were passed around
like halloween candy
"finally
finally
finally"
jolly shouts awoke us
and children
staggered
one by one
towards the
dining hall for
pancakes
and
chocolate milk
ponchos were
pulled over heads
as though they were
army uniforms
we trooped out in
groups
onto muddy trails
our hearts filled with
wonderment
and our eyes filled with
stars
we splashed through
puddles
and pointed out
possums
scribbled into little
notebooks
that we'd forget about
in the years that
followed
as our memories
sat on the shelves
of our minds
growing old,
growing dusty
but in the moment
as we sat on
stones
around a campfire
playing games
and singing
songs
all anyone could
think was
"finally"
finally
finally
finally
we held dance
parties
and we stargazed
we told bad jokes
about uranus
and let the
moonlight
bathe us clean of our
fifth-grade "sins"
some found love
some best friends
some found appreciation
for the meaningful
moments
in between
the silences
in the cacophony...
friday morning
arrived
swathing the
group
with a sadness
that hung heavy in
the air
tangible, almost
like a mist
tears dripped
from cheeks
sobs were held
back behind
tissues
and as we loaded
into the
little yellow bus
and drove away from
wonderland,
i promise you
not a one of us
was thinking
"finally"