winter afternoon in the classroom
a half-sleep
the nun speaks and rests
the eight-year-olds
bow heads over loose leaf
write

in the row along the windows
in the second to last desk
a boy
done early
melts crayons on
the ripple of the radiator
redblueyellowgreen
and on loose leaf
draws side
views of
Lincoln
in a world of
clean-shaven men

nosesuittieeyeshair
and black beard
nosesuittieeyeshair
and black beard
nosesuittieeyeshair
and black beard
nosesuittieeyeshair
and black beard

a psalm to the future
redblueyellowgreen

nine years later,
grows a beard
red-brown

now white

beard

Patrick T. Reardon
4.28.16

This poem was originally published by Silver Birch Press on 3.7.2016.

Written by : Patrick T. Reardon

For more than three decades Patrick T. Reardon was an urban affairs writer, a feature writer, a columnist, and an editor for the Chicago Tribune. In 2000 he was one of a team of 50 staff members who won a Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting. Now a freelance writer and poet, he has contributed chapters to several books and is the author of Faith Stripped to Its Essence. His website is https://patricktreardon.com/.

2 Comments

  1. Mary Elizabeth Zelasko April 28, 2016 at 7:04 am - Reply

    Love this!

    • Patrick T. Reardon April 28, 2016 at 4:55 pm - Reply

      Thnx.

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