Chanting Times Table and A B C

Writing fixed forms brings great comfort to me  
the sonnet, rondeau and the villanelle  
like chanting times tables and A B C  
 
If there's a door to my past, here's the key  
as rustling skirts of Miss whisper " all's well "  
writing fixed forms brings great comfort to me,  
 
And odor of cabbage, the scabby knees,  
clattering of school lunch, that wet wool smell,  
and chanting times tables and A B C,  
 
The screeching chalk, the hands raised, me Miss, please  
and indoor nature trail, the bring and tell,  
writing fixed forms brings great comfort to me,  
 
That light bulb moment of I before E  
grasping the magic of learning to spell  
and chanting times tables and A B C,  
 
The crocodile head counting, One Two Three  
And as I wait for my final school bell,  
Writing fixed forms brings great comfort to me  
And, chanting times tables and A B C.