The sisters(nuns)
at the school
are not happy with you
Mary's father said
at dinnertime
at the table
what's she done now?
her mother said
Mary swallowed a mouthful
of stew
eyed her father
not happy with me?
she said
not at all
her father said sternly
his eyes focusing on her
like a bird of prey
I've done nothing
Mary said
don't be telling me
your lies and fables
her father said
or I'll put my hand
across your behind
her mother looked down
at her plate
and mouthed food
Mary toyed
with a fork of beef
they don't understand me
she said
when I've one
of my monthlies
my mind is off balance
and it disturbs my moods
her father's face tinged
a slight red
around his cheeks
her mother chewed
and looked
at the tablecloth pattern
of blue and white
Mary forked in
another mouthful of stew
they say you're
rude and insolent
he said
looking beyond her
at the picture
of the Sacred Heart
on the wall
above the fireplace
just trying
to get through
the **** bleeds
she said
makes me not happy
being stuck there
in the classroom
while my mind's on
a low dive and the mess
and my mind down
and them standing there
like penguins
peering at me
THAT'S ENOUGH
ABOUT THE NUNS
he said
his voice heavy
his hand tapping the table
palm down
the mother gazed at Mary
eyes fixed on her
wondering if the father'd
slap the girl's behind
Mary put on her
I'm-sorry-I'm-just-
a little-innocent-girl-gaze
I've been to confessions
and told the priest
and got absolution
so I have
she said
eyeing her father
he stared at her
sitting there
a 14 year old
with a mouth of a 18 year old
and entering that arena
of womanhood with
its weird month
and week thing
well mind your manners
and see your mother
about these week things
he said
the mother gazed at him
then at her daughter
and nodded
and ate again
he looked at his daughter
and was glad there
was only the one
and ate a mouthful
looking away
at the Christ's
pointing finger
at his Sacred Heart
Mary nodded and stared
at her plate
and mouthed
a fork of beef
sensing a danger pass
and a felt deep relief.
Feb 4, 2016
Feb 4, 2016 at 2:18 AM UTC
The sisters(nuns)
at the school
are not happy with you
Mary's father said
at dinnertime
at the table
what's she done now?
her mother said
Mary swallowed a mouthful
of stew
eyed her father
not happy with me?
she said
not at all
her father said sternly
his eyes focusing on her
like a bird of prey
I've done nothing
Mary said
don't be telling me
your lies and fables
her father said
or I'll put my hand
across your behind
her mother looked down
at her plate
and mouthed food
Mary toyed
with a fork of beef
they don't understand me
she said
when I've one
of my monthlies
my mind is off balance
and it disturbs my moods
her father's face tinged
a slight red
around his cheeks
her mother chewed
and looked
at the tablecloth pattern
of blue and white
Mary forked in
another mouthful of stew
they say you're
rude and insolent
he said
looking beyond her
at the picture
of the Sacred Heart
on the wall
above the fireplace
just trying
to get through
the **** bleeds
she said
makes me not happy
being stuck there
in the classroom
while my mind's on
a low dive and the mess
and my mind down
and them standing there
like penguins
peering at me
THAT'S ENOUGH
ABOUT THE NUNS
he said
his voice heavy
his hand tapping the table
palm down
the mother gazed at Mary
eyes fixed on her
wondering if the father'd
slap the girl's behind
Mary put on her
I'm-sorry-I'm-just-
a little-innocent-girl-gaze
I've been to confessions
and told the priest
and got absolution
so I have
she said
eyeing her father
he stared at her
sitting there
a 14 year old
with a mouth of a 18 year old
and entering that arena
of womanhood with
its weird month
and week thing
well mind your manners
and see your mother
about these week things
he said
the mother gazed at him
then at her daughter
and nodded
and ate again
he looked at his daughter
and was glad there
was only the one
and ate a mouthful
looking away
at the Christ's
pointing finger
at his Sacred Heart
Mary nodded and stared
at her plate
and mouthed
a fork of beef
sensing a danger pass
and a felt deep relief.
