Early morning
Sun rising
Eyes opening

Mind flooding
Phone notifications
Diverting my attention

A troublesome text appears
Heart racing
Mouth drying
Head spinning
The day’s path
Already set

As the school day passes
I rush through classes
Sounds of murmuring students
The buzz and twing of cell phones

Tones,
Of a head-spinning symphony
Chaos, Confusion,
Cacophony.

Ring
Ring
Ring
The school bell marks the end of the day

The engine starts
I depart
Further
And further
From school

The breeze is cool
Leaves rustling
Chaos fading
Into quiet

The clamor of voices and devices
Replaced with the crunching of a dirt road.

The room smells like
Parchment and deep thoughts

“How are you?”
I greet the old man
He looks up from his sudoku
Smiling
Slowly rising
From his chair

“Good. Good.
The apples are ready to harvest
And this morning’s tea was the best.
Come!
Sit, and rest.”

It’s different here
Despite my initial fear
Worried about “wasted time”
It was worth it

I rediscovered the joy
Of savoring
Unhurried simplicity
Crisp apples from the garden
Hearing the peep of newborn chicks
Laughing
Rejoicing
Celebrating.

Afternoon fades into evening
I say goodbye
And head down the winding road
Departing this haven of contentment
Toward home

Filled with
Rekindled
Childlike
Wonder.