Back to School Wipeout

By Laurie Epps

Lots of kids nationally have started school this week. However, the transition from summer mode to school routine can be exhausting for everyone. Personally, I'm functioning on 3-4 hours of sleep a night and wondering why I'm still tired. But I look at my kids who in the morning don't want to get up, and in the evening are asleep before dinner.

Today's poem was a joint effort with my daughter Ellen, who just started junior college Monday, and my little one kindergarten. The end of the day is just as arduous. I have to wake them up for a bath and dinner. Chores are undone, and I'm struggling with concentration after being in a summer routine. But like every other school year, within two weeks we'll be back into the groove of things.

Back to School Wipeout

by Ellen and Laurie Epps

After watching TV all night

5 am is quite a fright

We fight with all our might

Not to see the morning light

But it's still dark outside

Under the covers we will hide

Back into slumber we will slide

We emerge from bed and heave a sigh

In the minivan we will cram

Half asleep and with a wham

Dropping off the kids, doors slam

Typical morning with the fam

Every morning still running late

Tardiness seems to be our fate

All teenagers can relate

One of your kids will make you wait

The wrong teacher can make you drool

Yet still, the students play it cool

Fashion seems to be the rule

Mommy picks us up from school

In the car seat fast asleep

From the backseat not a peep

Awaken the child, they will weep

Silence we will try to keep

Long day at school has been trying

And we feel like we are dying

Homework makes us feel like crying

We are tired, no denying

Mom tells us to do our chores

But we want to sleep some more

Laptop open she did snore

Gosh that book must be a bore!

Laurie Epps is a senior at Anderson University majoring in Creative Writing. Already Laurie is most published as a feature article writer, essayist, and poet. A seeker of beauty and world traveler, Laurie hopes to grow into a career in travel writing illuminating the many stories that make us human despite our differences. Currently, Laurie also has a Monday Morning Book Club column dedicated to writers everywhere, and column called Fiction to Film Fridays.