Curled on the floor
under my desk
I’m waiting
for the end of the world.
The bell keeps ringing
and we kids lie silent
with dust bunnies
and scraps of paper.
Philomena always whimpers
when we find ourselves
like this.
She’s learned to
whimper softly or fear being
thrown out on the street.
And we all know the street
is no place to be
at the end of the world.
Curling up with eyes
and ears covered
we hear the sounds
of silence wash across
the classroom: A belly rolls
a sniffle sniffs, and our nun
stands bravely at the door.
If Jesus were here would he be
in the doorway with her talking up
Religion grades or snuggled
under the desks with us?
- By Anthony Buccino
From AMERICAN BOY: Pushing Sixty
Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Photos and content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.
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