The Supreme Command Poem by Charles Wax

As soon as I walked
into the Teacher’s Center
I spotted John Trueman
weeping.
“Bernstein, Ida Tennenbaum
swallowed
another goldfish—
Tillie
the one
with
brilliant colors. I thought
after
she devoured Samson
that was the last
of her obsession.
Alas, no
she’s troubled
I won’t say
she’s not
still
Ida’s searching
for her purpose
in life
we all are, Bernstein,
and we’re Blessed
being teachers
to pilot
students
to such a pure place.”
Trueman paused
eyes lifted up
toward Heaven
“Well,
we know for sure
Ida Tennenbaum
wasn’t born
to be
a vegeterian.”