Many leaves in the schoolyard blowing.
Many children at recess playing.
The wind erased the blackboard,
The bell emptied the schoolyard.
Many leaves and many seasons
And wisdom with its myriad reasons.
Even if the lesson is erased
You’ll know, the learning’s not effaced.
A handicapped child is born to test us,
He’ll see if we are worthy of his attention.
The sick hold out their medicine for us to take—
It is good for the soul, they say.
The homeless guide us home unaware.
The hungry feed us with their eyes.
The suffering save us with their heavy tears.
When we are tired of being frivolous
We sometimes look differently at people and at things,
And they look at us and say
Even you are greater than you know.
Salvatore Ala 