Teen Ink

   It begins thus:

Our heads are bowed over our papers

moving in synchronized concentration

marking cuneiform

bird scratch

tracing the graceful patterns together.

(Our naive left hands had been slapped

so now we write with our rights.)

We must all be correct

and corrected: the same.



And it continues thus:

- the bell -

we rise on cue

Pavlovian dogs salivating our way

backwards/to

the same 50-minute block repeated.

march left right left right



And it is always thus:

sit write stand follow

bow praise reward

We arch our necks

snapping for our biscuit.

We do not know what heavenly

substance it is wrought of

(chocolate-covered sawdust)

but the line stretches, and all

kneel blissfully to receive it.