First Day Blues

There she stands, just three feet tall Today of all days she looks so small, Wearing new shoes and sparkling white socks She goes to pick up her pink lunch box Then we put on coats and head out of the door It's hard to believe that she is now four, As we walk down the road, she laughs and sings Not knowing how it pulls my heart strings Starting to run when she sees the gates She calls "hurry mummy, don't want to be late!". She enters the room with 'the very nice lady' A big girl now, not my little baby, I turn to leave tears burning my eyes From her words "love you mummy" on saying our goodbyes, Back through the gates with a long walk home Long because now she's not here, I'm alone For four years now we've spent each day together I wish in my heart, it could be that way forever But I recognise that is against all the rules For today, is my daughters' first day at school. copyright Janette Fisher 1989 This poem was written 23 years ago when my oldest daughter Elizabeth went to school