Every September the chestnut trees
Would form their pods
We’d keep an eye for the first to fall
Burnishing that brown nut against
Our flannel sleeves

The summer shops had taken in their awnings
And battened their doors
It was our town now—us winter kids

Red rover red rover, let Agnes come over
Echoed in the school yard
With all the jump rope rhymes
We carried from grade to grade

First year with Miss Dennis
Music with Miss Welch
Who sat her huge self sidesaddle
Across our desks
And one by one made us sing
“Little Pussy Mitts and Little Doggie Spits”
lived in a house together”

Fourth grade’s Mrs. Alves
Began each morning with The Lord’s Prayer
And the Pledge of Allegiance 
Then played her piano with patriotic flare
    

As we sang The Halls of Montezuma
And Anchors Aweigh

Joe Marshall’s sold the pomegranates
We shared at recess
Our faces red with stains
Ignorant of worlds that could grow such fruit

Cold to the touch, a black iron fire escape
Was our jungle gym
Where we’d swing and climb
‘Till Miss Silva’s ring of the hand bell
Called us back to class

After school we’d cut across Freeman Street
And if not enough time for a game of jacks
We’d shoot baseball cards against the wall
Winner-take-all

Our bathing suits were tucked away
The roller skates would soon come out 
And that click clack of metal wheels
Would carry us through town
Over cracks in the side walk
Against the cool edge of autumn air
We did not ask for more