Overdosed on reality.
In need of a break,
a distraction,
a moment’s rest,
that ability to exhale
without fear of
retaliation.

Related to that
recurrent memory,
a short stint in
Catholic elementary school.
The image of nun
standing under crucifix,
armed with ruler in one hand.

Spinning rosary beads
in air with the other.
Damning us, a bunch
of fourth graders, to Hell
just because God
and she were white
and we were not.

 

Janet Cormier is a painter, writes prose and poetry, and performs comedy. Janet prefers different and original over pretty. She loves collecting stuff, but cleaning not so much. Janet also talks to strangers. A lot. Her column appears weekly on Oddball Magazine.