bow ties

for some reason
my mother insisted we wear bow ties
to school
as small children.
white shirts with
red or plaid bow
ties clipped
on to our
buttoned up
skinny necks.
our hair was combed off
to one side,
a straight line part
leading back
to the cowlick.
we had brief cases too,
and shorts with
suspenders,
polished brown shoes.
we were miniature
congressmen going off
to kindergarten.
we looked ambivalent
and bored
in the photos,
about to start our day
with crayons,
and the alphabet,
kickball at recess,
and tuna sandwiches
for lunch.