Sixth Grade Lesson

In sixth grade
we memorized and recited poetry
for the entire class

I picked
Homework! Oh Homework!
by Jack Prelutsky

Homework! Oh Homework!
I hate you! You stink!
I wish I could wash you away in the sink,
if only a bomb
…and so on

Millie Tompkins gifted us
This Is Just To Say
by William Carlos Williams

After which she was chided,
because it is so short,
for not preparing an additional poem
tears welling, eyes frantic
her pale cheeks beets

Surely our teacher rots in hell
for so spectacularly
missing the point