We ain’t doin’ time,
like convicts convicted;
Be we got
convictions like church believers
in Christ, & the Holy Trinity.
Be wise like the Father,
Fight like the Son…
Don’t just sit there
like some damn indigent
holding a sign—
I need you,
to work like
the time you complete
will clear yo’ mama’s left ventricle
of all the cholesterol she’s collected
for the last 30 years
work—
I need you to
work like
your last is your first,
& your first is like
fist of fury, flying
& blind men walkin’
all over the world are in
trouble
1.
I understand
how difficult it is
to focus on flat screens
from a laptop as your
teen-age hormones are
raging against the system,
And…
we ain’t even talkin’ ‘bout sex.
It’s a matter of
knowing your surroundings
vs.
knowing your place
It’s finding integrity
amongst a table full
of cheats,
it’s staying awake,
persevering &
bending just enough of
the rules
to make it through the class.
It’s fucking high-school,
in the hood,
in a cold ass room
recovering credits with a teacher
in a Negro League jersey.
(but they don’t get that last part.)
And it’s the most,
because respect, rules, limits,
and relationships
go hand in hand
to create this atmosphere,
this learning space,
this, room 118.
2
When they,
come in
more quiet than church mice,
I wonder if it’s because
they struggle with English
or they’re just shy.
With one, I can’t lie,
let him slide by
b/c the young man
handles his biz; kinda look
the other way when
thumb swipes @CellPhoneFace
It’s the quiet class, the chill
class, the break in my day,
I’m almost ashamed to
collect money on.
Almost—
Almost like,
my students are almost focused
Almost like
my students are almost working
Almost like
I didn’t even come close to
believing that bald faced lie,
and allowing him to leave.
That phone shit can wait if
you expect to graduate.
Almost like
damn, you’re so close, you had
so many 2nd chances
Almost like damn;
you’re busted, you’re a cheat
Almost like damn you can’t focus.
Almost like, you almost graduated
Almost like, these students
almost impressed me.
Now it’s that shallow time when
you’ve thrown in the towel &
you’re just waiting for the bell to
ring
3
Fuck these kids
Fuck this school
Fuck these teachers
why does it feel like
I’m working
harder than the kids
4
Refresh
Re-do
Rewind
Somehow good interactions
removed all
anxiety, frustration, & pisstivity
5
….After Lunch
Last class,
last pass,
last time I tried
was before lunch.
So when room is
filled with hoodlums from
hood-slums, smellin’
worse than Denver’s finest—
Fuck you,
bathroom passes for everyone,
hoping that
every child bails
at 2:28pm
2 minutes before the bell rings.
Happy Friday,
Deuces
6
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