The Almost Teacher

Two amusing anecdotes from the first two weeks of school:

1. A casual reference to personal matters (e.g., that my mother is Colombian, or that I have a twin brother), will often prompt students to barrage me with even more questions about my life outside of school. I made some amused comment about this phenomenon as my 10th graders were interrogating me, when one of them suddenly asked me, "What is your dog's middle name?"

I promptly responded, "Henry and Matilda; Algernon Henry and Begonia Matilda are my dogs' names."

He laughed, bemused, and said, "I tried to ask you a question for which you wouldn't have an answer!"

"I always have an answer," I proudly answered.

2. My 9th-grade students wrote a Letter of Recommendation, a more sophisticated sort of thank you, for their first major assignment in Lobo 101. They submitted a draft for editing, which they returned with a final copy to be mailed, so I could check that improvements had been made. Imagine my mortification (I don't think it has been greater except for the time I mispronounced "functioning" in front of an entire class), when I discovered that I had changed, "I really appreciate all of the time Mr. Barnaby spent helping me" to "I really appreciate all of the time Mr. Barnaby spent doing me." HOW did this happen? I DON'T KNOW. The student, baffled by my suggestion it seems, simply omitted the sentence entirely.

What I Always Wanted

the skull skulks
under skin
he will win

bone will own
what I always wanted:
the Earth

Red Clock

blood beat
in my here
I cannot see this Time
When will it end?
blood seconds
minutes in vein, vain minutes
red clock
How will you break?

Snarled

Children of the twisted teeth
Twisted mouth
Twisted snout
Cleft of beauty
Cleaved to cuts

I am their half sister
I know how ugliness
Wears a face like a dress
The grotesque shown best
upon lips

And

Who will love a bitten face?
Who will kiss half a mouth?

Stomaching

must stomach,
Stomach.

heart heaves
lungs leave—
stretch, Stomach!

heart might still
lunge at rest

Everything Wants—
stretch, Stomach!
skin can’t keep

so much.

Soon

Soon the Quiet
Soon the Dark
How will Death hold?

I know he cannot love me
Like I love the Light!

He only wants me
To be quiet
To be dark.

I will scream and scream Light!
Maybe she will keep me.

Soon
the Quiet
Soon the Dark.

Ofellia

Ophelia fell.
Awful. Offal.

Without a Hamlet
Without a Home
Only water.

Lover’s liver and posies
Liar’s lips and ham
Let the vulture sparrow—

Good night, sweet Prince,
Of me you’re rinsed.

Ode to a Flame

Shadow Light.
Bright Air.

Can’t feel,
But will ever burn
Apollo’s solid breath.

What are you?
You go with mine,
But much would choke.

Phaeton’s feather—
only Distance
can love you

If you won’t be touched.