torn labels

Despite class sizes
th number of children doesn’t change
and half a million are up too late tonite
beating prostitues w/ their PS2s.

Locked in                                            
and for th children…
sun comes up slowly,
for th children –
who in autumn should be spelling
                           ameliorate
                           conditions are not improving   [they say
                           th condition of their minds.

Driving past th high school to work.  Still
dark at seven a.m. teachers are huddled
around a wicker man and a burning garbage can.
Parking lot, protest…not going
in there until more money, less students…engaged in a staring                                                            
contest, out into th dark morning.  No eyes sure                                                                                
they are underpaid but summers off                                                                                                     
and no proper supervision for kids                                                                                                     
still running th streets.                                                                                                                              

                       c’mon let's see some job action
                       christmas is coming

Do not wrap these futures up
in elementary anarchy.  mr-this and mrs-that
strut th sidewalk.  Like seeing my grade five teacher
drunk at the bar.  Shattered illusions, at an age
that illusion is all that counts (controls.  Someone has
to be bigger than 8.  Cannot pick and choose
laws, cannot steal tvs or cigarettes.  But somehow
can beat prostitutes w/ PS2s –
is what they’re doing these afternoons instead
wrap them in times tables;
make sure they can use a comma, and not a playstation coma.
It is not for the children.  Remember the
haggard faces of your public school teachers; remember
the mean kids in every class –
don’t pretend you didn’t know what you were
getting into.

# posted by hardyf : 07:36