For my teachers
Ms. H,
fierce leader
of p.m. kindergarten.
And Peg,
with her peppery bob
and even temper.
For Renee,
who we hugged and
called mom.
And Terry,
who said hard things
at hard times.
Mickey,
who made sense of x + y.
For Jack B.,
and smiling
those dreamy smiles.
This is for Ms. Chase,
lover and demystifier
of poetry.