The Kinks
the middle school history teacher
feels like she’s losing her mind
covering the state test in roomsfull
of kids who can’t see why
we have to speak english
the president’s insane
what’s the point of all these
meaningless names and dates
the middle school history teacher’s
got two of her own two hours away
in the middle class suburb inherited
from the divorce
her kids stop to wonder
why she cries in the car
insisting on piano lessons
and no phones after hours
the middle school history teacher
told me I could have her job
she’s thinking about Florida
somewhere somehow
and I’m the substitute
with my fourth grade work
a book of origami
and voices from cartoons