This is the fifth edition in my series, published in Inhale the Night, Sleeping with Earth, an eBook released by Darcia Helle and Moments at Midnight.
Find part two right here. Part one here.
Odyssey
~
DEATH TO THE PATRIARCHY
was scratched into her three ring
notebook –
it was her small way
of chipping at the ceiling
while Mr. Lewis
rambled on –
another man,
self-absorbed,
omnipotent in his domain.
he could have geometry
for all she cared.
Odyssey learned better
Without distractions
Of which, there were too many –
Her grandmother didn’t understand
A teenage girl or
Think to speak
Instead of yell –
It was painful to go home.
It was painful to stay.
Jacie tore up bits
Of her eraser and threw
Them at Odyssey
Forcing her to turn around.
“Stop!” she yelled.
The class laughed
In unison.
“Odyssey, is there a
Problem?”
Her teacher asked.
She mouthed “nothing”
And he quickly moved
From sines to tangents.
Odyssey took a deep
Breath as her mother taught her.
It would be okay, and if not,
She had a rubber band to tie
Around a pen and nail …
for Jacie’s throat.
~
© Ben Ditmars 2021
~
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