Sisters Jellyfish Poem by Greg Gaul

In grade three
Sister Mary Grace told me
that I was a spineless jellyfish
that meant I wasn't doing
what I was told
yielding to my weakness
the whole class heard
I felt shame

Later, Sister Regina Alice
said I was a bold, brazen, article
that meant nothing to me
except that I was wrong again
and it wasn't the last time
I heard from the sisters

For years, I grew
from distaste to compassion
for the sisters jellyfish
and I finally found my spine
remaining only
a bold, brazen, article