the hardest is you in grade two. two times faster
than grade one. or langsam. teachers always grade
on a curve. and forget about who falls into the middle. curvature. curvilinear. the curious thing is
I never have trouble getting the accent to recede

plain lucky, I guess

guess again, you say, take my hands and swing them high over your head. when the bell rings everyone crowds the doors, pack ourselves in. the boys' line up, and the girls'. curtains, you say

you say curtailed, and I mispronounce you. our teacher wears purple, a different shade monday-tuesday-wednesday-thursday-friday. figures, you
say. figures add up. and curses

WE'VE HAD ENOUGH

the we catches my voice surprised against your neck, your hands cured

cursed again you say. your words want what they
get