Summary
A fun back-to-school spin on a popular festive poem.
Twas the Night Before School Starts
‘Twas the night before school starts, and all through the house,
Not a backpack was ready, nor even a blouse;
The summer bags piled fresh from their trip,
Still stuffed full of sand and barely unzipped.
The students lay scrolling through phones in their beds,
While visions of class schedules danced in their heads;
And you with your planner, and me with my sighs,
Have just realized how fast summer vacation flies.
When out in the kitchen there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from their rooms to see what was the matter.
Away to the counter they flew in dismay,
Tore open the mail—school forms to complete today.
The glow of laptop screens and papers spread wide
Gave luster to coffee cups lined up beside,
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
But teachers preparing—the new school year’s here.
With faculty meetings, so lengthy and bright,
They knew in a moment it would be a long night.
More rapid than eagles the prep work came,
And teachers just nodded and sighed at the game:
“Now, lesson plans! Schedules! New standards to meet!
On, copies! On, rubrics! Make bulletin boards neat!
To the top of the pile! To the back of the hall!
Now prep away! Prep away! Prep away all!”
As coffee that before the long day must brew,
When teachers arrive early (at quarter past two),
So up to the classrooms the educators flew,
With boxes of hopes and some new tricks too.
And then, in the hallway, they heard the sweet sound
Of colleagues returning from summer’s rebound;
As veterans gather their wisdom to share,
New colleagues approach with that wide-eyed stare.
The young people grumble about summer’s end,
While secretly eager to see each friend;
Their backpacks lie empty, supplies not yet bought,
But snap chats are buzzing with drama and thought.
The faculty lounge fills with stories of rest,
Of travels and novels and time at their best;
Yet syllabi need posting and rooms need their care,
As August humidity hangs thick in the air.
Though students still sleep until well past noon,
And teachers prep classes while humming a tune,
The rhythm of learning calls out through the heat,
Making even the laziest summer heart beat.
For soon will come lectures, homework, and tests,
Pop quizzes and projects and all of the rest;
But also connections and growth day by day,
As wisdom and friendship find their own way.
So teachers keep planning and students keep dreaming,
While parents keep hoping (and sometimes deep breathing),
The countdown continues through summer’s last light,
Then a big push ahead till Winter Break is in sight!