We sat on the curb
Tossing smooth brown pebbles
Through a nearby sewer grate,
Two six year olds,
Workbooks in hand,
Shaved heads shining in the sun
Waiting for our golden chariot
To take us to the land of learning
Where they somehow forgot
To teach us about forgiveness
Or about compassion or empathy
Or about the one subject
That could actually change our lives —
About love.
All of us, the girls and boys,
Were left to learn about these subjects
On our own
In the streets and back alleys
Where brightly-colored baubles
Easily caught our attention
And love remained hidden,
Untouched and unknown,
In the shadows and dark corners
Just beyond our grasp.
George Philip, who works in market research, has lived in the Princeton area for the past 30 years.
