Pictures On Top of Pictures

I have pictures on top of pictures on top of pictures on my bulletin board.
They are from children, and they never get taken down, they get stapled over.
It is a haphazard, happy pattern, and I plan to never change it as it is unique
And it makes me smile. I look up and remember who came and why, or maybe
Not why, but who, and maybe not even who, but they all have feelings attached to them.
Some are brilliantly happy, others are cartoons of me, or cartoons of them or drawings of
Monsters, unicorns, cars, dogs, flowers, stars, trophies, fish, or other wonderful things.
The point is, they come into the counselor’s office all mad or sad, and with a little bit of 
Listening, and a lot of re-directing, they leave here a bit happier, a teensy bit more optimistic,
And many of them in gratitude give me their drawing saying “it is for you” with a flourish.
Some do not remember my name, but this is fine with me. 
The important point is, they almost all remember being in here.
They remind me of other times they have been in here,
Times they have had lunches with me.
They remember things I said, things they said, and
Things others have said.
Their memories are forever,
So I am careful.
Not to open my
Mouth unless
I have something
Nice to say.
Feeling so immensely grateful that I am 
The school counselor, not the school principal.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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Kiser Avatar
November 6, 2018 at 11:49 AM
Hmmm, that's dedicated. Teacher, principal, counselor, who cares; those kids need you. A beautiful, sentimental poem.
Krutsinger Avatar
November 6, 2018 at 1:21 PM
Thank you M.L. I have had a variety of people in here today, and I am stapling away.
Mcferran Avatar
November 5, 2018 at 3:44 PM
Yes, I can imagine (no matter how nice) the principal would never have a bulletin board full of the kids' artwork like that... I think you do a wonderful kind of work! ;)
Krutsinger Avatar
November 6, 2018 at 7:29 AM
I will not do it the day after it stops being fun though, so they might as well enjoy me now.
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