Page 68 of Them Bones

“Okay everyone, we’re going to do things a little differently today. Instead of introductions, since you all know each other anyway, let’s have you write something. You have thirty minutes, and then you’ll read an excerpt to the class.”

“Write what?” Marianne asked.

“Anything you want,” he said. The students groaned, but he tapped his watch, and they all began to write, the room full of the sounds of pens scratching on paper.

He watched the clock tick down.

“Time!” he called, and everyone put down their pens. “Who wants to go first?”

The room was silent, everyone avoiding his gaze, afraid to be chosen. But Laney was looking right at him. Like she knew he’d done this for her. Like she knew he missed reading her work. He’d almost come to think of her as an author, and a good one at that.

“Here,” she said, holding out her notebook. “You can read mine.”

“What did you prepare?” he asked eagerly. He’d intended for the students to read their own work out loud, but he didn’t really care.

“A poem,” she said, and went back to staring out the window.

Paul cleared his throat and began to read.

If we just had two wings and lived THERE

in the almost

between Earth’s chapped lips

and Cloud, rustling your hair with her secrets

The Invisible Always is waiting, nowhere and everywhere.

If we just had two wings and lived THERE

in the almost

between Sky and Water’s dark bodies pressed together

So unconcerned by Moon!

Though she rules them both,theylive THERE

just beyond her reach.

If we just had two wings and lived THERE

in the almost

where Wind holds her seeds

an unseen gardener

on the prowl for a home for Tree

a place to play

and sing

and dance.

If we just had two wings and lived THERE

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