Ditto

Red Catholic cardigan
Folded over sturdy desk.
Raining on and off again.
Hurtling past a restlessness.

Scented air of sea and spray.
Gull wings flapping livelong day.
Rosy ring around the steeple
Lighting on us little people.

Tapping on the unbent minds.
Ripening green melon rinds
Tossed to birds out in churchyard.
Math infractions way too hard.

Packing paper, parceled book.
Did my homework. Have a look.
Why they always seem more smarter?
Essay questions getting harder.

Down at homeroom gym assembly,
Podium pantsuit teacher sends me
For a special AV function.
Cosy coatroom court injunction.

Now I run the spinning reel.
Flickering frames of how I feel
Important and somewhat worthwhile.
Inside me there’s a winning smile.

Much like yours, sideways, so shyly.
Wisecracks pop, but don’t get by me.
Lit by Shirley’s “Lottery”,
I can see you Miss McGee.


11/15/20