One For The Teachers

I went back to school today
To drop off my English homework
The halls were waxed
And everything smelled like paint
Chairs and desks and computers
Were stacked in front of lockers
Walking past the offices
Social Studies
Language
English
Science
Math
Which should've been familiar
But they were all so empty
It was like walking around town
On Christmas with my best friend
Everything was the same as always
But just empty
No music blasting in the English wing
No absurd laughing from the Language office
No Social Studies teachers yelling down the hall
No Science teachers wheeling things around
No Math teachers eating cake
The English ladies aren't clique-ing down the halls
As they gossip to each other
The Math and Social Studies coaches
Aren't bickering with each other
The Language teachers aren't
Bidding everyone they meet "Good morning"
It's just an lifeless pit of despair
And I realize
I don't miss the students
I miss the teachers
Acting like they're still kids
They make the thought of going back to school
Managable