Page 7 (2/2)

As if she were directing a group of instruments, Gooney Bird pointed quickly to Ben, Felicia Ann, and Beanie They els are for her daughter, too!"

The chorus repeated it

Gooney Bird pointed to Barry Barry quickly whispered instructions to Mr Leroy, and together they lay backwards in the snow and er one "Patricia Pidgeon!" they chanted loudly together, and the chorus repeated the name

There was a silence, and then Gooney Bird held up both arhter!" everyone chanted

Another silence Then: "A good teacher!" they chanted together

At Gooney Bird's signal, every child--and the principal, following Barry's directions--lay down in the snow They all moved their arms up and down slowly Fro down onto the fresh snow that covered the playground, it looked as if a whole flock of birds were preparing to fly

Then they all stood again, in the outlines of their snow angels

One by one they each called out a phrase:

Ben: A cake with pink candles!

All: I remember!

Chelsea: A yellow hair ribbon!

All: I rele!

All: I remember!

Tricia: The lace collar on my mother's dress!

All: I remember!

Keiko: Ruffled curtains in

my bedroom!

All: I reranthe

of honeythuckle!

All: I remember!

Beanie: Fireflies!

Barry and Mr Leroy: Fireflies!

Tyrone: Fireflies!

All: So many fireflies!

Gooney Bird called, "What happened to all the fireflies?"

The chorus of children chanted, in reply:

They're out there!

We can't see theeon'sher way!

They all stood silently Then they held up their hands and waved goodbye

"This was a Poem for Many Voices," the children said

After a moment, Mr Furillo turned the video camera off They could see him take his rumpled handkerchief from the pocket of his custodian uniform He wiped his eyes

The perforan to climb the steps to return to school

"We didn't even wear our poetry hats," Chelsea pointed out

"It would have been a distraction," Gooney Bird explained, "and anye'd already written the poem We didn't need to warm our brains for the perforood?" Malcole front door

"You did great!" the principal said He turned and exchanged a high-five with Malcoleon will treasure that video, and that poem, forever It onderful

"We shouldn't boast," he added Then he looked down at his wet, slush-covered feet, sighed, and said, "My shoes are toast"

Gooney Bird, walking past, had overheard the conversation She grinned and gave the principal a thun "Couplet," she said "Not bad, Mr L"