This poem was written by Success Coach Courtney Mabie after several interactions with children at Freedom House, talking about getting ready for school.
In the morning light, a bus rolls near,
Picking up children, their hopes held dear.
From the shelter where goals are woven tight,
A young one steps out into the new school light.
A shiny yellow bus, a rumbling cheer,
The scent of crayons and breakfast near.
Little feet march up the metal steps,
Eager hearts inside, no hint of secrets kept.
Breakfast at school, a table spread wide,
Milk and eggs, laughter as a guide.
Friends chatter on about cartoons and games,
Unaware of the shelter, the whispers of shame.
In the classroom’s embrace, with walls painted bright,
A child sits ready, eyes wide with delight.
Teachers hand out worksheets, a lesson anew,
No clue of the battles, the storms that they flew.
Comparing new clothes, they giggle and play,
The child’s donated jacket, hidden away.
A backpack once loved, now worn with grace,
Passed along gently, a temporary embrace.
Each pencil and book, each story they share,
Are battles fought quietly, with courage to spare.
The weight of the nights, the shelter’s soft hum,
Are carried so silently as daylights come.
A smile lights the face, a hand raised so high,
In the heart of a child, where dreams never die.
Unseen are the struggles, the nights spent in need,
Yet here in the classroom, their spirit’s freed.
In the midst of their peers, their challenges stay,
Wrapped in the shadows of bright, busy day.
Yet they sit with resolve, with dreams clear and bright,
A beacon of hope in the morning’s first light.