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At The School Gate

By Paul Mc Cann

There is a weekday ritual to which I can relate .
The primary school at three o'clock ,
waiting at the gate .
The who's who and the what's new of our small community,
as children come out from school inhibitedly free .
They are looking for a face,
to be there it is great .
As all the Mums and Dads stand there ,
I join them at the gate .
I reach out with both my arms to greet my little son .
We walk to where the car is parked ,
before the buses come .
As it happens once again ,
school has finished for the day .
The children have learnt their lessons ,
teachers have earned their pay .
As time goes by my son will grow ,
and I shall leave the gate .
For he will make his own way home ,
to where I'll sit and wait .