Class Room 1957 Poem by Terry Collett

Miss A held up the card
with a word on it

who knows
what this word is‭?
she asked

the class stared glumly
at the card

a girl put up her hand
is it monster‭?
she said

no it's not monster
Miss A said moodily

another girl
put up her hand
is it mouse‭?

O'Brien snorted
a laugh behind
his ink stained hand

it is not mouse
the teacher said
her eyes lifted
ceiling ward

I put up my hand

yes Benedict‭?
Miss A said

can I go to the bog Miss‭?
there was a titter
behind my back

yes you can
but no you may not
she said sternly

I pulled a face
she looked at me
I unpulled my face

anyone else
have any idea
what the word is‭?
everyone has one
she suggested

O'Brien whispered
to me a word
I could not repeat

what was that O'Brien‭?
Miss A asked

muscle Miss
he said
(not the word
he said to me‭)

no it is not that
look at the card
look look
she said

we gazed at the card
in her hands

who knows
the first letter‭?

a girl put up
her hand

it's M Miss
she said

and the second letter‭?

I put up my hand
it's O Miss
I said

she gazed at me
and the third letter‭?

Helen put
up her hand
it's T Miss
she said

already whispered O'Brien
ain't long had dinner

Miss A glared at him
the fourth letter O'Brien‭?

aitch
he said

Miss A sighed
H
she said
one breathes
the letter out
H not aitch
next letter‭?
she said

it's E Miss
a girl said
on the floor
sitting crossed legged

and the last letter‭?
Miss A asked

it's R Miss
O'Brien said

so what do all
the letters say‭?
she asked

Mobster
a girl said
with glasses
(who often
wet herself
if she couldn't make
the bog in time‭)

no no
Miss A said
look at the letters

I lifted my hand

and she said
yes Benedict‭?

I need the bog Miss

GO
she said loudly

and I got up
and sped as fast
as I could

just as I got
to the door

Dennis said
it's Muvver Miss

Miss A looked away
she looked
distressed

it had been
a long
hard day.