Aloysius Vicious

Sister Aloysius rings the bell
iron-railing straight she stands 
habit flapping blackly
her triple-bolted thin-lipped smile
pursed against assault, or love,
while children shuffle past
their tulip heads averted
from her scything gaze

Jimmy from the Chinese 
chip shop, smiling, filing past
What is so amusing? 
children freeze, ice-blooded
in breath-held silence.
"Lovely morning."

Sister Aloysius
unlocks her bolted lips
hisses a crack-small stream of air
allows a Yes to escape.
the children
march, backs braced
into the shadow 
of school
Copyright © | Year Posted 2006

Poem

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Winter Avatar
October 20, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Congratulations Maggie on your Honorable Mention in Mark's contest! Love, Shar
Suzadail Jr. Avatar
September 3, 2008 at 6:41 AM
Hi Maggie. Thanks for your comments. Hey! after 12 years of Catholic school in the 50's and 60's (British Invasion grad 1964), I can relate to this poem. Detention was my favorite class. Looking back, they did teach and they did push you to succeed. It's 40 years now, so my concussions are all healed. God Bless. Vince
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