Experiment With Time Travel Poem by Rayn Roberts

They led us to sunlight on the grass beside the school
Brought an extension cord, a phonograph with a box
Of many colored long silks, played the Firebird
La Mer, Swan Lake, and suddenly
We began moving like birds or deer with scarves on their necks
We came alive outside the classroom, that box.
We were human for the first time in public school.
This was kindergarden, no thought, no conditioned response

We were happy to be in the light with melodies enchanting us
Inspiring wonder in motion in many innocent moments
Unaware of gender or race, only a spontaneous urge to run
Dance in circles with colors glowing over our heads, sway
In time to leap and fly celebrating two or three colors,
Yes, simply being children, free to express and play.
We were fully alive for thirty minutes- it felt like hours.

The teachers smiled when the experiment was over, they had
Done their best to evoke creativity, but that
Was never needed, we needed only to be worry-free, fearless
Willing to listen, laugh, and you know, I can't tell you
How often I've wondered why this memory
Returns time and again like a dream of an old love,
Well I don't anymore, but fall, into a reverie and dance again, again