Kievan Gate
I am ten sitting in a
Fourth-grade class
Being shown drawings
By older district students,
Suddenly I am looking at
One of my drawings done
In the third grade drawn to
The music of Mussorgsky’s
Great Gate at Kiev played
On a portable phonograph
By this same art teacher
Currently addressing us.
My fellow students look
At me and say that is
Your drawing tell her
But I have learned to
Keep quiet around
Teachers but it is
Too late and the
Art teacher is
Unhappy to
Be asked
Such a
Question
Of authorship
Of one of her drawing
Examples by older children,
She looks for a signature and
Finds my name on the drawing
Trying to explain perhaps there
Are two Danny Mings in the
District but at last she is
Forced to admit the
Drawing is by me
And had accidentally
Got into her older children’s
Portfolio by a mistake.
She puts the drawing
Away and I never see it
Again though it
Would only last
A few days
As my sibs would
Damage it in short order
On the icebox door.
We are not allowed to draw
Only to look at examples
Of older kids for our edification,
I would rather draw than watch
And begin to do until
My teacher sends me to
Stand in the hall for
Drawing in art class.
Later she divided the class
Into various bird groups depending on our academic standing
Placing this information
On the blackboard to
Emphasize the slackers.
My name is on the top
Of the bottom list so she tells
Me my work is unsatisfactory
And not to think otherwise
Just because my name
Is first among the
Poorer students.
She seems to
Have a
Blame
Hang up and seeks to motivate
By shaming though these are
Almost always boys and
Immune to shame
As we do not
Care.
Education
By woman in
Elementary school
Makes boys learn
To ignore any woman
Talking based on
Our experience
In class which
Is a loss for
Us boys
Who
Are considered
Too pushy talking
Over girls as eager as us
For attention.
Any wonder
So many boys
Never grow up
Or take responsibility.
Better to play dumb
As we are portrayed
On TV and avoid
Responsibility
In favor of
Anonymity.
I keep
Drawing in the
Hallway,
Reading at
Lunch,
Writing in
Secret.