Exceptions
by Lauree Fletcher

Exceptions.
Traveling, wondering,
wandering among anticipations.
Photos burned in memory,
status equally so.
Arriving, eyes can’t close,
heart pounding.

Manners. Rules.
Carry the bags, nod and smile,
walk stately through the lobby
right up the stairs. A polite smile,
a slight bow of the head;
they don’t know that I see the unchecked frown -
the backwards glance.

Compusure.
One hour of freedom.
Out the front door,
down the stairs, around the corner.
The run to the hillside
feet barely skirting the ground, bounding.
Stooping, I touch the heather.

This poem was written for Mary Cornish’s Writing Outside the Box class. It is an ekphrastic poem, written in response to a photo collection at our local museum. The Mount Baker Lodge collection intrigued me. As I wandered around the room observing the photos, it struck me that only two photos displayed included children among the adults – and these two appeared to be at least in their early teens.

What must it have been like for those few children who were included in the heavenly destination so far up the mountain? I remember my first trip up to Mount Baker (as an adult). It seemed almost reverent to be so close to the heavens, so far removed from the realities of the valley. So I was drawn to indulge my own imagination about what it might have been like for one of those youngsters, who having seen pictures of previous vacations at the Lodge, to be invited for the very first time to join in the reverie.

One of the photos in the collection looks down on the Lodge from the rocks up above, a perfect spot to be alone, but still in sight. Another photo looks up from the drive at what I suppose to be the very same spot.

Lauree Fletcher is a graduating senior at Fairhaven College. As a non-traditional student, Lauree’s journey to complete her concentration, Creative Education and Social Responsibility: Bridging Individuality and Community has been both exciting and challenging. As the mother of six children, Lauree has become quite proficient at juggling multiple perspectives as well as multiple responsibilities. She is looking forward to slowing down a bit after graduation as she considers grad programs and continues to develop her skills as an education consultant.