Miss Graham put on
the record player
a black LP

of some Beethoven stuff
and you and Reynard
sat at the back

of the class
writing down
other kids’ names

backward
or guessing
which girl

had the biggest ****
or had had their first kiss
and with whom

and Miss Snoot
down at the front
thin and gaunt

sat with her head
laying on
her folded arms

taking in
the music
her right finger

conducting
an invisible orchestra
her dark hair

brought tight
in a bunch
by a ribbon of green

and Reynard said
who'd kiss
her lips or cheek?

she's a titless wonder
he added
you wondered

how the music
had taken her
to some other place

how her finger moved
how her closed eyes
might one day

open on
an unexpected
husband

who would kiss
and do whatever
but Reynard had

undressed her
in his mind
describing each

and every article
of clothing he'd removed
and the music

had darkened
and grown heavier
and Miss Graham

scanned you all
through thin
framed spectacles

her eyes focusing
on Reynard
then you

then away again
and Miss Snoot
whose finger had retired

just lay there
seemingly asleep
like one too tired

whose thin frame
like one half starved
lay slightly in motion

to the music's drug
and despite
Reynard's rude words

beside in your ear
stirred in you
the odd desire

upon her cheek
and frame
to kiss and hug.