the middle school history teacher 

feels like she’s losing her mind 

covering the state test in roomsfull

of kids who can’t see why 

 

we have to speak english

the president’s insane 

what’s the point of all these

meaningless names and dates

 

the middle school history teacher’s 

got two of her own two hours away

in the middle class suburb inherited

from the divorce 

 

her kids stop to wonder 

why she cries in the car 

insisting on piano lessons

and no phones after hours

 

the middle school history teacher 

told me I could have her job 

she’s thinking about Florida 

somewhere somehow 

 

and I’m the substitute 

with my fourth grade work 

a book of origami 

and voices from cartoons