It's Still Life

Somethings Just Stick, And They’re Not Even Sticky

I don’t remember much of 1st grade,
except my teacher’s name: Mrs. dePugh.

She smelled like chicken soup.

I’d giggle when Dad called her Mrs Stinky.
That’s why I remember her name, that

and the chicken soup smell, and

every Monday we took off our socks
and shoes, and she’d inspect our toes.

Yeah, really.

I don’t know why. I had a ruler smacked
across my hand for refusing one time.

Just that once.

One day after lunch I sat in the wrong
classroom. Across the hall. Left vs right.

The school rang Mum. Said I was lost.

And every Wednesday we folded squares
of construction paper into little baskets.

Mrs dePugh filled them up with popcorn.

Written for Twiglet #235 “Folded Paper”. #APoemADay on Twitter   ©Misky 2021 Photos from WikiCommons cc:00 no restrictions