Poetry Friday, Week 42: A 55th High School Reunion

Sarah at Sarah Grace Tuttle is at the helm this poetry Friday. She's updated her blog and website and there's much to explore.

Last week, I was in my hometown, attending my 55th high school reunion.  We were the first graduating class of the school and the two years below us were all very close so we do our reunions together. It was both exciting and poignant and overwhelming.  I have struggled with my emotions to capture the moment.  So today I am sharing a VERY rough Haibun about the weekend. Feedback is welcome.

---

Four of the five us attended the same elementary school, Abraham Lincoln. In 1969, as 16 and 17 YO we traveled to France for a summer school trip.

Fifty-five Years Later
June 17, 1970, the first graduating class of Royal High School, walked across the outdoor stage. 300 plus graduates.  The classes of 1971 and 1972 watched and cheered us know their turn would be next. We parted ways, some chasing hopes and dreams, some fighting an unpopular war, and some becoming part of the work force. 
The reunions- the tenth, the twentieth, thirtieth, and fortieth were brief events marking the passages of time: jobs, marriages, kids, divorces, careers and career changes, and for some, they didn’t make it to the next reunion.
The fifty year reunion was planned for October 2020. In March 2020, Covid took the reins of our lives.the world shut down.  Reunion cancelled, trips cancelled, quarantined and masked up.
Now fifty-five years later, the Reunion for the classes of 1970-1973. Was it really going to happen? The barn at Strathearn Historical Park with its rough hewn wood, antique equipment and tractors transformed with round tables topped with the 60’s theme and fairy lights. 
We arrived dressed as in high school, bell bottoms, boho dresses and tops, peace signs and flowers in our hair, psychedelic patterns along with fringed vests.  Name tags with our senior photos guided us to recognize our former classmates. Within moments of chatting the familiar face came into focus. In the background the sounds of the sixties and seventies could be heard and soon the dance floor filled, dancing with abandon as we did fifty years ago.
connections
let’s meet in five years
until then
©jone rush macculloch, 2025

---

I'm hosting Halloween Day! It's going to be spooky

Preview:  Here is a prompt list I found from @arcanapoetrypress @cozyinpress. 

Write a poem and then share on October 31st!

---