Weekday morning, most people still in bed
Dew on the flowers and the short green grass
I'm headed for the schoolyard
Three long hours before any type of class
It's empty!
Not really.
The early bird gets the worm and the brown doves
Got it down pat
Sun's not even up and they're out in droves, feeding
Romancing, basically getting fat
Everybody loves the yard.
Naked almost, no shoes, no shirt, 
cut off khakis and a handful of rock
Trying to knock one of those suckers into yesterday, 
Not having much luck.

School starts at nine.
Not for me!
We're playing cricket you see
Free for all
I want to be early
By the time the bell rings you're a fucking mess
Bat in the grass, ball in your desk
And…
An eternity, between you and the first recess

We didn't have much, but we never had it hard
We laughed, we cried and we played
Life was always good, inside the schoolyard

Cricket was king
Not mandatory
A kid could play just about anything
Marbles were cool; we'd play for fun or takes
Lost all of mine, one time when the gunslingers
Started to shake and bake
A hole and a line and we'd gamble for cherry seeds
Zigging and zagging, bulging pockets and dusty fingers
The rewards for your good deeds
Dodge ball! 
Cowboys and Indians, ducking bullets
Behind any kinda wall
Soccer! 
Damn near busted all of my toes
Innovation rules
Just about anything goes.

School breaks at three, but the games go on
You're hungry but you want to stay for more
Who wants to leave, miss a game or 
God forbid get sent to the store
Some of us spend more time here than we do at home
It's hallowed ground
Kids paradise!
The sweetest damn spot in town

We didn't have much, but we never had it hard
We laughed, we cried and we played
Life was always good, inside the schoolyard


Kinsale, Montserrat WI

School Yard   copyright © 2002 Ahkenaton  All rights reserved