I wrote this poem for my first day teaching Kindergarten at my new school in Finland.
First Day.
You gather the dirt that collects
At the bottom of puddles
With a yellow spade, and drink it.
Four of us spend an hour
Drawing sea spiders, though none of us
Are sure that they exist.
Happy Birthday Israel, you say.
I love every Jew. You make me a cake
Of blue salt, which I pretend to eat
Though you insist it’s actually for you.
I wish my belly sparkled, I say,
Almost to myself. I wish it shone
Like sequins and glitter.
You do your best to grant my wish.
I throw it away, ashamed,
Shimmering, covered in glue.
