2/6/26

2/6/26

in the foyer of an elementary school

one story, no basement

in the event of disaster

my mother’s hair was red, copper

like pennies if they smelled beautiful

i am young here, heart guiding me

to green and white

and pennies — lilacs in grease

it helps calms down the hustle

two toddlers reaching knees

waiting the extra half hour instead

of a half block

better to wait in crowds

one book is your limit

maybe a pencil or a notepad too

they taught us cursive, last of us

to get the skill, they say

she cried when her professor said

it wasn’t as good as she’d thought

and no one can read mine either

say we walk the same

talk the same, too

we’ve got our own eyes, at least

mine are a bit better

but hers have seen more

past the knees of these benches

and before the block down the

street

— ODH