Breathe deep even if it means you wrinkle
your nose from the fake lemon antiseptic
of the mopped floors and wiped-down
doorknobs. The freshly-soaped necks
and armpits. Your teacher means well,
even if he butchers your name like
he has a bloody sausage casing stuck
between his teeth, handprints
on his white, sloppy apron. And when
everyone turns around to check out
your face, no need to flush red and warm.
Just picture all the eyes like your classroom
is one big scallop with its dozens of icy blues
and you will remember that winter your family
took you to the China Sea and you sunk
your face in it to gaze at baby clams and sea stars
the size of your outstretched hand. And when
all those necks start to crane, try not to forget
someone once lathered their bodies, once patted them
dry with a fluffy towel after a bath, set out their clothes
for the first day of school. Think of their pencil cases
from third grade, full of sharp pencils, a pink pearl eraser.
Think of their hand-held pencil sharpener and its tiny blade.
Aimee Nezhukumatathil
