Lockers slamming, making music
Laughter, crowds, movement, falling books,
Creating a well known sound,
The voice of the hallway
The yellowing of once white walls
A cracked chalkboard, a gummy desk
Welcome.
It’s always familiar,
And always the same
The homework always done
And yes, don’t worry
I did it.
Soft blue printed lines on clean white
Covered with messy blue ink
While the closing of the lockers
Echoes, sounds, and clashes
This building never changing
“work for freedom”
It’s a camp, a cage
Yes, eventual, inevitable death, too
Work till tears fall, hearts break,
Windows crack
Work, work, work
As lockers slam
On an unknown life