Another Loss

Image by Priscilla du Preez via Unsplash

I lost another child today.
Not my own, not one that I birthed.
But another who was stolen from me.

I never thought my life as an educator would
Make me remember the Middle Passage
When reassignment is punishment 
Much like a child stripped from its mother on African shores
Or like seeing each other from different plantations
Trying not to get too close
And not to look too long
For the master would know how much we hurt
And we couldn't let them win that way.

Because remembering was just too hard
The lessons of last year
The talks, the smiles, the breakthroughs
The hugs, the laughs, the contented silence.

We forced ourselves to be ok with this existence
Waited until alone for the tears

Today came oh too soon
No more visiting the plantation down the hall
No more daily hellos or sneak hugs.

Today was goodbye and snot
Father and son and teacher
My words trying to make it better when it isn't
With overseer overseeing the scene.

Are you happy now?