The nuns at St. Matthews
were a somewhat twisted lot
with their do unto others
as you would have others
do unto you
then sending us out at recess
for a game of dodgeball
where we tried our best
to connect a muddied ball
to the ass of the class brainiac
or to rattle the nerves
of a best friend
who was trying to rattle yours.

The nuns encouraged the meek
while discouraging fisticuffs
insisting that our language
was up to playground standards.

And for fifteen minutes or so
we were at war, seeking glory
and enduring pain
until the whistle blew
summoning us back to class
where we began our next lesson
which on Monday and Wednesday
was religion.

Jeff Anderson lists two books, three grandkids, and embracing each day as his major accomplishments. A retired urban science instructor, current apple orchard support team, Jeff calls Gleason, WI, home and believes poetry is his favorite sport.