Austen handed out
lumps of brown clay
and dumped it
in front
of each boy
in the classroom
onto a wooden desk.
I broke off
a piece of clay
like he said
flattened it
as a base.
Then rolled out
another piece
into a narrow
oval strip
about a foot long.
We had to twirl it
around the base
to make a ***
then smooth down
the joins.
Austen then walked
among the boys
with his stare
through thin
wire-framed glasses.
He stopped
by my desk
what's that?
he said.
A *** Sir
I replied.
He stared at it
bring it
to the front
he said.
I picked up
the clay ***
on the palm
of my hand
walked
to the front
of class.
Lift it up
so all can see
he said.
I lifted it up.
This is how
NOT
to make a ***
he said
Coles has
obviously
not been listening
or watching
what I have
been saying
or showing.
A few kids
sniggered
out of fear
of not doing so
rather than mirth.
Had you been
watching me
or listening
to me Coles?
he said.
Yes Sir
I said.
It does Not
look like it.
He took the ***
slammed it
on to his desk
shooed me
away from him
plopping
the misshaped clay
in my palm.
Go sit down Coles.
I took
my lump of clay
and sat down.
Other kids
stared ahead
**** scared
of Austen
to look away.
I stared at him
taking in
his stern features
and pockmarked skin
and grinned within.
Jun 18, 2017
Jun 18, 2017 at 9:44 AM UTC
Austen handed out
lumps of brown clay
and dumped it
in front
of each boy
in the classroom
onto a wooden desk.
I broke off
a piece of clay
like he said
flattened it
as a base.
Then rolled out
another piece
into a narrow
oval strip
about a foot long.
We had to twirl it
around the base
to make a ***
then smooth down
the joins.
Austen then walked
among the boys
with his stare
through thin
wire-framed glasses.
He stopped
by my desk
what's that?
he said.
A *** Sir
I replied.
He stared at it
bring it
to the front
he said.
I picked up
the clay ***
on the palm
of my hand
walked
to the front
of class.
Lift it up
so all can see
he said.
I lifted it up.
This is how
NOT
to make a ***
he said
Coles has
obviously
not been listening
or watching
what I have
been saying
or showing.
A few kids
sniggered
out of fear
of not doing so
rather than mirth.
Had you been
watching me
or listening
to me Coles?
he said.
Yes Sir
I said.
It does Not
look like it.
He took the ***
slammed it
on to his desk
shooed me
away from him
plopping
the misshaped clay
in my palm.
Go sit down Coles.
I took
my lump of clay
and sat down.
Other kids
stared ahead
**** scared
of Austen
to look away.
I stared at him
taking in
his stern features
and pockmarked skin
and grinned within.
Request permission to use this poem