Janette Richie
didn’t like you much
as was shown
that time
in Mr Finn’s class
when she slapped
your face
for something you’d said
leaving you
with a spinning head
and a red cheek
but that aside
and her rather
plump frame
and maybe spectacles
you kind of like
her motherliness
the bossiness
around the class
the way she walked
the wiggly ***
but whatever it was
you’d said to her
to invite the slap
it was just a string
of words carrying
no malice or meaning
to hurt and the sensation
of her hand of flesh
touching your
young boy’s cheek
a nearness
she hadn’t thought on
or given any deeper
probe than the desire
to swipe an annoying boy
not realizing
that the gesture
and the plump hand
landing had more
than a momentary
feel or touch
you there after kind of
liked her in your
secret way
never repeating
the words said
about her plumpish
frame or swaying ***
or the spectacles
of thick glass
and maybe the other
boys laughed
and thought it some
joke of misjudgement
on your part
but you found
a secret place for her
in your nine year old
heart.
Nov 14, 2012
Nov 14, 2012 at 3:24 AM UTC
Janette Richie
didn’t like you much
as was shown
that time
in Mr Finn’s class
when she slapped
your face
for something you’d said
leaving you
with a spinning head
and a red cheek
but that aside
and her rather
plump frame
and maybe spectacles
you kind of like
her motherliness
the bossiness
around the class
the way she walked
the wiggly ***
but whatever it was
you’d said to her
to invite the slap
it was just a string
of words carrying
no malice or meaning
to hurt and the sensation
of her hand of flesh
touching your
young boy’s cheek
a nearness
she hadn’t thought on
or given any deeper
probe than the desire
to swipe an annoying boy
not realizing
that the gesture
and the plump hand
landing had more
than a momentary
feel or touch
you there after kind of
liked her in your
secret way
never repeating
the words said
about her plumpish
frame or swaying ***
or the spectacles
of thick glass
and maybe the other
boys laughed
and thought it some
joke of misjudgement
on your part
but you found
a secret place for her
in your nine year old
heart.
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