I wake.
Fall time.
Time for falling back into rhythm.
Breathing. In and Out.
Wake up to a cold, golden sun on flaming leaves.
Shadows slanting on the pavement as I walk.
Keep my eyes looking past those I pass.
Every now and then, my eyes lock with someone.
Awkward. A little.
But, then, I feel a smile jerk at the corners of my mouth. So quickly.
They're surprised. They smile back, surprising themselves too, I think.
I sit. The desk is small, and old, and creaky, but I'm comfortable.
I look out at the long pine branches and then at my teacher.
I wonder if he's always been like this.
If he's ever been young and without jaded eyes and with a heart that was open and soft to You.
I wonder what happened to make his words so heavy with mockery.
I talk. So many people, so little time to talk and listen and hear who is who and how they feel. What they think.
To discuss and discuss.
To discuss men who are 400 by now.
To discuss feelings that are brand new.
All the people here are old and trying to get older
But they were once just babies.
Everyone was once without walls.
Lord, I'm excited for you to make all things new.
But meanwhile
I wake up to the cold autumn morning,
I walk down the street and try to love people with my eyes,
I sit in little desks and pray for teachers,
and I'm learning ten new names.
