algebraic

It's the last day of school; 
a launchpad 
from the end of June 
stripping off the year 
while in mid air 
to cannonball into the depths 
of summer; 

an uncomplicated exit 
after cleaning your classroom 
and finishing reports 
and packing up 
and handing in your photocopier card 
and room keys;

a moment of luxurious silence 
while staring 
at that one thing 
that you just noticed 
hidden in the far far corner 
of your classroom; 

a vainglorious victory 
of finding every key 
and favourite pen 
and travel mug 
that you lost; 

a broken daily compulsive ritual 
that will be left fallow 
for two months 
unless your family 
and friends 
are teachers too; 

an aching reminder 
10 minutes distance 
into your commute 
of that one person 
that did not make it 
to the end of the school year; 

and a mindshift 
from the definitive 
to the abstract 
because everything 
outside of the bells 
is your actual 'real life'.