These hallways resound
the sound of our breath even when we are not around
to gasp at its fluidly tight air
Our buzzing energy absorbs into every
cinder block
giving spirit to the walls even when they are empty
We give life to the building
of dancing dreams
Circling our fated decisions like Cassius Clay
we enter a vertical, hollow ring
I dodge shoulders on the way to class
Remember to get a pass to see Ms.… Thing
Combinations or Permutations 13 42 13
Certain I can’t finish 2nd’s homework in 1st
First begins with a teacher who didn’t respect me previously
Now works frivolously to see my good nature. What…
We and these hallways are backbiting, jealously warm family
bound together by laws, plaster, and bricks
The longing anticipation to bust free of it
is only so strong when your kin is close
This building builds us up like Big Mama’s hugs
simultaneously
changing us like father’s hate/love
And sibling rivalry seeps into our souls when we past each other in these halls
playing in unrecognizable blood
Friends and hugs Smiles and PDA
I need to get to class Get out of my way!
Oh wait it’s you slow down we still cool
We have time before it rings to talk over some things
Ringalingaling… Guess not
We are jungle
Wild and unkempt
These corridors are society’s attempt
To refine and reprint copies of itself
The walls
Enclose us and hold us
Cradle and mold us
We willfully unwillingly are apart of this building
This cold concrete Mother
I am always surrounded by people and still am alone
I want to go home
No more tests or teacher’s hissy fits
Girls screaming from how hard rumors hit
Am I the only one who’s sick of it?
The mouths move that sit behind the desks
I’m hungry…When’s lunch
These halls will shove us into the Un-
Known
Foreseen
future
nipping at our memories like starved fledglings
heartbroken that we have flown
Bottomline
I can’t wait
to graduate
But I will miss
this
place
Ring… Ring… Ring…
The Poetry Corner 