independence

He lags behind
as we run to school,
reaches out to hold my hand...
we reach the stairs
and field between and he says,
"I can run the field myself."

"Bye, have a good day,"
I say,
and off he goes
to disappear
in the mass
of children playing.

Bell rings,
they swirl,
older ones
dragging their feet,
off to classrooms
and days
filled with curiosity...